Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mahdia Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mahdia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $570 in Mahdia, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $903 in Mahdia, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $1,236 in Mahdia, rent included.

Medellin costs about 196% more than Mahdia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Mahdia is 58% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Mahdia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89 COP 24.2K
$2.49 TND 7.17
216.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53 COP 136.5K
$20.18 TND 58.2
120.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.29 COP 28.5K
$4.86 TND 14.01
91.15%
Cappuccino
$2.90 COP 8,874
$0.99 TND 2.84
192.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 COP 5,541
$0.63 TND 1.82
187.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 COP 4,741
$0.19 TND 0.54
715.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 COP 9,962
$1.04 TND 3.01
212.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 COP 18.0K
$1.51 TND 4.36
289.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Mahdia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 COP 4,230
$0.43 TND 1.24
220.93%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 COP 7,517
$0.29 TND 0.84
744.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,617
$1.36 TND 3.91
11.03%
Eggs
$2.78 COP 8,516
$1.62 TND 4.66
71.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.05 COP 27.7K
$11.80 TND 34.01
-23.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.65 COP 32.6K
$5.07 TND 14.61
110.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.63 COP 44.8K
$14.79 TND 42.65
-1.08%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.2K
$2.32 TND 6.70
71.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,219
$2.92 TND 8.43
-52.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,056
$1.48 TND 4.26
55.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.02 COP 6,185
$0.76 TND 2.18
165.79%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 COP 6,390
$0.60 TND 1.73
248.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.63 COP 4,996
$0.32 TND 0.93
409.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 COP 3,313
$0.45 TND 1.28
140.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,843
$0.35 TND 1.02
257.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03 COP 12.4K
$3.39 TND 9.77
18.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.47 COP 41.3K
$3.36 TND 9.68
300.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 4,904
$1.65 TND 4.75
-3.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 COP 9,189
$1.33 TND 3.83
125.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Mahdia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,611
$0.33 TND 0.95
257.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.9 COP 244.9K
$13.73 TND 39.59
482.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.61 COP 4,920
$0.30 TND 0.86
436.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,533
$0.28 TND 0.81
660.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 COP 26.1K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,142
$0.89 TND 2.56
51.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K COP 86.8M
$41.0K TND 118.1K
-30.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7K COP 109.4M
$40.2K TND 115.8K
-11.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Mahdia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 COP 463.8K
$57.3 TND 165
164.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10 COP 40.1K
$5.65 TND 16.30
131.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30 COP 99.0K
$23.39 TND 67.4
38.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Mahdia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.33 COP 141.9K
$21.44 TND 61.8
116.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26 COP 52.9K
$7.77 TND 22.41
122.14%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43 COP 19.7K
$6.78 TND 19.54
-5.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Mahdia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$835 COP 2.6M
$113 TND 325
639.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,887 COP 27.2M
$1,035 TND 2,985
758.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Mahdia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3 COP 273.7K
$39.88 TND 115
124.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3 COP 169.5K
$34.63 TND 99.8
59.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 418.5K
$79.3 TND 229
72.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 COP 335.1K
$23.98 TND 69.1
356.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Mahdia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 COP 2.9M
$130 TND 375
631.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$668 COP 2.0M
$103 TND 297
548.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 COP 6.2M
$306 TND 883
559.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 COP 3.5M
$180 TND 518
539.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,696 COP 11.3M
$679 TND 1,959
444.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,586 COP 4.9M
$208 TND 600
661.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Mahdia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$625 COP 1.9M
$242 TND 698
158.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.43
10.33
0.97%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Mahdia: August 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $130 in Mahdia. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 158% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin versus $20.00 in Mahdia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $189 – making Mahdia the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Medellin vs Mahdia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mahdia cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 196%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,530 per month in Medellin and $855 in Mahdia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mahdia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $835 per month in Medellin and $113 in Mahdia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Mahdia?
Groceries cost about 57% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Mahdia?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mahdia, where all-in costs run around $570, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Mahdia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Mahdia more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mahdia – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Mahdia?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mahdia. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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