Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Manouba Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Manouba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $643 in Manouba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $979 in Manouba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $1,314 in Manouba.

Living in Medellin is roughly 61% more expensive than Manouba, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 23% lower, Manouba 52% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Manouba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.4K
$3.46 TND 9.99
71.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COP 118.2K
$20.66 TND 59.7
58.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COP 26.0K
$5.23 TND 15.10
37.67%
Cappuccino
$1.70 COP 6,140
$1.08 TND 3.11
57.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,966
$0.60 TND 1.73
83.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,605
$0.25 TND 0.73
188.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COP 6,022
$1.56 TND 4.51
7.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COP 11.2K
$2.43 TND 7.03
27.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Manouba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,809
$0.47 TND 1.35
125.53%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 4,497
$0.20 TND 0.57
525.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COP 5,022
$1.49 TND 4.29
-6.71%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,168
$1.49 TND 4.30
51.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 15.6K
$10.68 TND 30.87
-59.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COP 21.1K
$5.67 TND 16.39
3.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COP 31.9K
$13.74 TND 39.70
-35.74%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,099
$2.03 TND 5.86
10.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,882
$3.07 TND 8.87
-64.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,522
$1.05 TND 3.03
45.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,950
$0.74 TND 2.13
85.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,078
$0.72 TND 2.08
56.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,036
$0.60 TND 1.73
86.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,057
$0.43 TND 1.25
97.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 3,281
$0.31 TND 0.90
193.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 8,414
$3.35 TND 9.69
-30.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COP 40.2K
$5.00 TND 14.45
122.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 4,309
$1.10 TND 3.19
8.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 8,553
$1.06 TND 3.06
123.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Manouba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,838
$0.33 TND 0.95
139.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COP 148.5K
$10.04 TND 29.03
309.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,184
$0.29 TND 0.85
396.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,901
$0.31 TND 0.89
516.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COP 28.9K
$3.43 TND 9.91
133.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,385
$0.86 TND 2.50
9.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 64.7M
$35.2K TND 101.8K
-49.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 96.7M
$34.8K TND 100.5K
-22.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Manouba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COP 303.1K
$44.88 TND 130
87.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COP 34.7K
$9.72 TND 28.08
-1.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COP 87.2K
$21.08 TND 60.9
14.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Manouba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COP 93.4K
$23.37 TND 67.5
10.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COP 68.7K
$12.72 TND 36.77
49.69%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.1K
$5.51 TND 15.92
-28.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Manouba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.1M
$109 TND 314
182.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COP 21.4M
$2,524 TND 7,295
134.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Manouba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 209.1K
$44.16 TND 128
31.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 114.9K
$44.44 TND 128
-28.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COP 360.6K
$96.0 TND 278
4.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 386.8K
$64.1 TND 185
67.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Manouba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COP 1.8M
$200 TND 579
142.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.3M
$153 TND 442
140.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COP 3.0M
$276 TND 798
198.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$206 TND 594
248.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COP 10.6M
$880 TND 2,542
232.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COP 5.1M
$562 TND 1,625
150.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Manouba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COP 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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Manouba: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $200 in Manouba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $21.00 in Manouba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $183 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 Manouba?
Medellin and Manouba differ by about 61% in total monthly costs ($1,034 vs $643 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 $1,550 in Medellin and $964 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 Manouba?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 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 4% 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 $21.00 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 $643 in Manouba versus $1,034 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 61% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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