Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Monastir Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Monastir

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $680 in Monastir, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,073 in Monastir, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,467 in Monastir, rent included.

Medellin costs about 47% more than Monastir, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Monastir are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Monastir 49% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Monastir
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91 COP 18.6K
$3.81 TND 11.19
55.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 COP 103.9K
$23.83 TND 69.9
38.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 23.4K
$5.12 TND 15.02
45.12%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,212
$0.88 TND 2.58
87.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,472
$0.71 TND 2.08
54.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,461
$0.31 TND 0.91
151.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,417
$1.71 TND 5.02
0.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$1.88 TND 5.51
69.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Monastir
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COP 3,478
$0.49 TND 1.44
124.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 3,966
$0.15 TND 0.44
740.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,354
$1.74 TND 5.12
-20.69%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 6,866
$1.50 TND 4.40
45.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 COP 14.2K
$12.29 TND 36.07
-63.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.79 COP 18.3K
$5.88 TND 17.26
-1.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 28.3K
$13.77 TND 40.40
-34.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 COP 7,315
$1.53 TND 4.49
51.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,356
$3.16 TND 9.28
-66.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,779
$0.98 TND 2.88
55.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,274
$0.75 TND 2.21
81.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,555
$0.75 TND 2.19
50.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,692
$0.59 TND 1.75
98.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,841
$0.43 TND 1.27
109.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,826
$0.31 TND 0.91
190.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 COP 7,041
$3.45 TND 10.12
-35.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 COP 38.2K
$5.22 TND 15.31
132.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 3,747
$1.19 TND 3.49
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 7,823
$1.39 TND 4.07
78.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Monastir
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 COP 2,690
$0.38 TND 1.13
123.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.62 COP 131.2K
$11.56 TND 33.93
260.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,463
$0.32 TND 0.94
343.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 6,147
$0.33 TND 0.98
490.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 24.9K
$3.47 TND 10.19
127.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,122
$0.81 TND 2.37
22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 55.5M
$40.8K TND 119.8K
-56.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 84.5M
$35.7K TND 104.7K
-24.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Monastir
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 261.6K
$58.4 TND 171
42.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 COP 30.6K
$10.12 TND 29.71
-4.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 COP 74.1K
$18.20 TND 53.4
29.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Monastir
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.26 COP 79.6K
$20.70 TND 60.8
22.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 COP 60.2K
$6.97 TND 20.44
174.03%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 12.4K
$5.41 TND 15.87
-26.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Monastir
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COP 995.3K
$106 TND 310
198.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,975 COP 18.8M
$3,221 TND 9,451
85.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Monastir
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 189.1K
$44.84 TND 132
33.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 100.3K
$62.1 TND 182
-48.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 320.4K
$113 TND 332
-10.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 338.7K
$82.1 TND 241
30.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Monastir
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.5M
$208 TND 611
127.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 COP 1.2M
$133 TND 391
180.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 COP 2.7M
$463 TND 1,359
83.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 COP 2.3M
$276 TND 811
160.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,265 COP 10.3M
$1,249 TND 3,664
161.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 COP 4.5M
$627 TND 1,839
129.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Monastir
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$624 COP 2.0M
$348 TND 1,021
79.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
11
22.09%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Monastir: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $208 in Monastir. 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 80% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $24.00 in Monastir. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $189 – making Monastir 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 Monastir: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Monastir cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 47%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,020 in Monastir. 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 Monastir, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Monastir?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $24.00 in Monastir. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Monastir?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $680 in Monastir. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Monastir?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Monastir, where all-in costs run around $680, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Monastir it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Monastir more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Monastir – 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 Monastir?
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 Monastir. 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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