🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $2,522 in Manchester, TN.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $3,548 in Manchester, TN.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $4,574 in Manchester, TN.
🙂Living in Medellin costs roughly 59% less than in Manchester, TN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Manchester, TN is 88% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Manchester, TN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$13.11$13.11
-54.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$31.89$31.89
2.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$9.09$9.09
-20.79%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$4.20$4.20
-59.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$2.40$2.40
-54.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$2.08$2.08
-65.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$6.67$6.67
-74.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$4.12$4.12
-24.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Manchester, TN
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$0.95$0.95
11.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$3.90$3.90
-67.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$4.57$4.57
-69.58%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$4.52$4.52
-50.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$5.62$5.62
-22.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$5.62$5.62
3.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$11.24$11.24
-21.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$5.09$5.09
-55.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$1.76$1.76
-38.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$4.48$4.48
-65.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$3.98$3.98
-65.58%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$3.83$3.83
-70.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$3.41$3.41
-67.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$2.30$2.30
-63.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$2.48$2.48
-63.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$4.45$4.45
-47.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
$14.83$14.83
-24.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$1.71$1.71
-30.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$1.53$1.53
54.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Manchester, TN
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$2.02$2.02
-60.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$3.07$3.07
-53.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$1.47$1.47
29.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$40.69$40.69
-80.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$0.81$0.81
16.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$32.4K$32.4K
-44.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$25.7K$25.7K
4.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Manchester, TN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$287$287
-70.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$54.1$54.1
-82.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$59.6$59.6
-59.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Manchester, TN
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$43.76$43.76
-40.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$15.92$15.92
-75.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Manchester, TN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$1,349$1,349
-77.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$29.9K$29.9K
-80.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Manchester, TN
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$68.2$68.2
-15.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$39.90$39.90
-20.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$102$102
-2.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$129$129
-16.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Manchester, TN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$1,606$1,606
-69.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$1,362$1,362
-72.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$2,597$2,597
-68.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$2,243$2,243
-68.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
$2,670$2,670
9.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
$2,423$2,423
-41.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Manchester, TN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.56
104.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Manchester, TN: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $1,606 in Manchester, TN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $32.00 in Manchester, TN. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $336, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.
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 Manchester, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Manchester, TN cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 144% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,550 in Medellin and $3,783 in Manchester, TN to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Manchester, TN?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $1,606 in Manchester, TN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and Manchester, TN?
Supermarket bills run roughly 77% higher in Manchester, TN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Manchester, TN?
All in, you'll spend $1,034 per month in Medellin versus $2,522 in Manchester, TN – a 144% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Manchester, TN?
At $1,034 in Medellin versus $2,522 in Manchester, TN, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Manchester, TN. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Manchester, TN more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Manchester, TN, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 144% less than in Manchester, TN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.