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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $735 in Monastir, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,178 in Monastir, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,621 in Monastir, rent included.

Medellin costs about 129% more than Monastir, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Monastir is 46% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Monastir
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.3K
$4.70 TND 13.66
70.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 151.0K
$22.48 TND 65.4
112.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 31.2K
$6.09 TND 17.73
62.40%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,873
$1.15 TND 3.35
172.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 6,019
$0.81 TND 2.36
135.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,763
$0.39 TND 1.13
287.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,853
$1.75 TND 5.09
78.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.1K
$1.76 TND 5.11
226.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Monastir
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,558
$0.52 TND 1.50
176.92%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,843
$0.17 TND 0.49
1364.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,595
$1.75 TND 5.08
1.14%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,336
$1.72 TND 5.00
72.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 31.8K
$13.75 TND 40.00
-26.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 31.9K
$6.20 TND 18.04
63.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 45.1K
$14.88 TND 43.28
-3.90%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 13.0K
$1.92 TND 5.58
115.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,073
$4.69 TND 13.64
-65.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,083
$1.15 TND 3.35
95.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,104
$0.82 TND 2.40
174.39%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,444
$0.90 TND 2.63
126.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,842
$0.77 TND 2.23
100.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,691
$0.47 TND 1.36
148.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,121
$0.34 TND 0.98
285.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.3K
$3.67 TND 10.69
6.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 44.2K
$5.04 TND 14.65
177.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,498
$1.20 TND 3.49
45.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 9,053
$1.35 TND 3.93
112.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Monastir
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,834
$0.35 TND 1.02
248.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 253.9K
$11.66 TND 33.93
590.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,129
$0.32 TND 0.94
309.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,899
$0.33 TND 0.97
563.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.5K
$1.81 TND 5.27
381.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,306
$0.84 TND 2.44
63.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 87.8M
$39.7K TND 115.6K
-29.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 112.8M
$37.1K TND 108.0K
-3.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Monastir
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 559.3K
$69.0 TND 201
157.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 43.8K
$10.87 TND 31.61
27.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 93.8K
$20.23 TND 58.8
46.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Monastir
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 141.6K
$24.20 TND 70.4
85.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 54.0K
$6.74 TND 19.60
154.01%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 21.0K
$6.19 TND 18.02
7.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Monastir
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.6M
$99.0 TND 288
721.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 29.0M
$3,058 TND 8,897
200.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Monastir
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 282.3K
$49.46 TND 144
80.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 186.0K
$66.1 TND 192
-10.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 435.9K
$114 TND 331
21.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 322.1K
$110 TND 321
-7.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Monastir
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.3M
$205 TND 597
417.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
$122 TND 355
443.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 6.0M
$374 TND 1,087
405.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.2M
$240 TND 699
327.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.2M
$1,237 TND 3,600
238.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.3M
$623 TND 1,812
168.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Monastir
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.1M
$356 TND 1,037
90.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
11
-0.55%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Monastir: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $205 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 90% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $22.00 in Monastir. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $213 – 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 129%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,103 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 $48.00 in Medellin and $22.00 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 $1,681 in Medellin and $735 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 $735, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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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