😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $630 in Manouba.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $965 in Manouba.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $1,301 in Manouba.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 59% more expensive than in Manouba, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin25% lower, Manouba53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Manouba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.6K
$3.46TND 10.16
70.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 103.9K
$20.39TND 59.9
61.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.4K
$5.16TND 15.13
43.99%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,211
$1.07TND 3.15
54.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,471
$0.60TND 1.76
83.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,460
$0.23TND 0.67
239.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,416
$1.54TND 4.51
11.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.0K
$2.35TND 6.89
35.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Manouba
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,477
$0.49TND 1.44
124.49%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,965
$0.16TND 0.46
687.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,353
$1.51TND 4.42
-8.61%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,864
$1.48TND 4.34
47.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.2K
$10.41TND 30.53
-56.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.3K
$5.84TND 17.15
-0.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.3K
$13.27TND 38.94
-32.40%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,314
$2.04TND 5.98
13.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,355
$3.00TND 8.79
-64.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,778
$1.01TND 2.96
50.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,273
$0.68TND 1.99
100.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,555
$0.69TND 2.04
63.77%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,692
$0.60TND 1.75
95.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,840
$0.47TND 1.37
91.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,826
$0.29TND 0.84
210.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,039
$3.46TND 10.14
-35.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.2K
$5.19TND 15.24
133.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,746
$1.15TND 3.36
3.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,822
$1.07TND 3.14
131.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Manouba
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,690
$0.36TND 1.05
136.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 131.1K
$10.19TND 29.90
308.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,462
$0.32TND 0.95
343.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,146
$0.33TND 0.98
490.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.8K
$3.36TND 9.85
134.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,121
$0.83TND 2.43
19.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 55.5M
$35.6KTND 104.4K
-50.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
$34.5KTND 101.2K
-22.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Manouba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 261.6K
$45.81TND 134
81.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.6K
$9.76TND 28.63
-0.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 74.1K
$21.43TND 62.9
9.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Manouba
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 79.6K
$23.65TND 69.4
6.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.2K
$12.67TND 37.19
50.75%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.4K
$5.32TND 15.62
-25.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Manouba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 995.1K
$108TND 316
192.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.8M
$2,474TND 7,260
141.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Manouba
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 189.1K
$45.12TND 132
32.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 100.3K
$43.94TND 129
-27.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 320.4K
$94.9TND 278
7.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 338.6K
$63.8TND 187
68.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Manouba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$200TND 587
137.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$152TND 446
145.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$271TND 796
213.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$204TND 599
252.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.3M
$1,071TND 3,143
204.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
$650TND 1,907
121.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Manouba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
10.96
22.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Manouba: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $200 in Manouba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $20.00 in Manouba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $181 per month, with Manouba cheaper across the board.
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 Manouba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Manouba?
Medellin and Manouba differ by about 59% in total monthly costs ($1,003 vs $630 including rent). Manouba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Manouba?
You'd need roughly $1,504 in Medellin and $945 in Manouba 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Manouba?
Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Medellin versus $200 in Manouba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Manouba – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $630 in Manouba versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Manouba but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Manouba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Manouba?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Manouba?
Expats usually find Manouba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.