Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Msaken Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Msaken

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $672 in Msaken, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,076 in Msaken, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,480 in Msaken, rent included.

Medellin costs about 53% more than Msaken, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Msaken are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Msaken 50% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Msaken
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$5.01 TND 14.66
22.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$23.30 TND 68.2
39.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$4.97 TND 14.55
47.69%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$1.02 TND 2.99
68.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$0.70 TND 2.04
50.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$0.29 TND 0.84
165.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$1.22 TND 3.58
38.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$2.64 TND 7.71
20.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Msaken
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$0.50 TND 1.47
110.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$0.16 TND 0.46
712.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$1.30 TND 3.80
7.69%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$1.67 TND 4.90
29.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$12.14 TND 35.51
-63.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$6.19 TND 18.10
-5.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$14.04 TND 41.09
-38.46%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$2.00 TND 5.87
14.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$3.15 TND 9.21
-64.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$1.16 TND 3.40
31.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$0.75 TND 2.19
80.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$0.71 TND 2.07
59.15%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$0.58 TND 1.70
94.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$0.43 TND 1.27
97.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$0.31 TND 0.91
193.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$3.29 TND 9.64
-28.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$6.02 TND 17.60
105.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$1.15 TND 3.36
4.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$1.40 TND 4.09
77.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Msaken
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$0.35 TND 1.03
140.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$10.00 TND 29.25
305.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$0.31 TND 0.91
358.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$0.33 TND 0.97
481.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$3.49 TND 10.21
119.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$0.87 TND 2.55
13.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$41.2K TND 120.5K
-56.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$35.6K TND 104.1K
-25.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Msaken
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$57.8 TND 169
39.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$9.77 TND 28.58
1.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$18.81 TND 55.1
28.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Msaken
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$23.44 TND 68.6
7.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$12.89 TND 37.71
48.56%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$5.50 TND 16.09
-27.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Msaken
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$106 TND 312
186.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$3,182 TND 9,309
90.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Msaken
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$42.28 TND 124
37.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$61.4 TND 180
-47.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$102 TND 298
-1.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$79.1 TND 231
36.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Msaken
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$195 TND 571
144.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$133 TND 389
183.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$381 TND 1,116
121.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$269 TND 788
171.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$1,043 TND 3,053
208.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$632 TND 1,849
117.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Msaken
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$245 TND 716
152.13%
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 12, 2026

Last update for Msaken: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $195 in Msaken. 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 152% 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 $23.00 in Msaken. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $195 in Msaken – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Msaken: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Msaken cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 53%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,008 in Msaken. 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 Msaken, 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 Msaken?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $23.00 in Msaken. 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 Msaken?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $672 in Msaken. 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 Msaken?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Msaken, where all-in costs run around $672, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Msaken it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Msaken more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Msaken – 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 Msaken?
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 Msaken. 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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