Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sfax Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sfax

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,014 per month in Medellin vs $628 in Sfax, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,596 per month in Medellin vs $1,005 in Sfax, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,178 per month in Medellin vs $1,382 in Sfax, rent included.

Medellin costs about 61% more than Sfax, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Sfax are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Sfax 53% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14 COP 22.2K
$3.36 TND 9.67
82.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05 COP 119.3K
$19.94 TND 57.4
65.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.32 COP 26.4K
$3.43 TND 9.89
113.41%
Cappuccino
$1.66 COP 5,987
$0.72 TND 2.07
130.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,987
$0.64 TND 1.85
71.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,822
$0.23 TND 0.66
239.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 COP 6,188
$1.50 TND 4.31
14.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 11.5K
$1.89 TND 5.45
67.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 COP 4,012
$0.54 TND 1.54
105.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,719
$0.18 TND 0.52
627.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,980
$1.54 TND 4.44
-10.39%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 8,009
$1.58 TND 4.56
40.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.34 COP 15.7K
$11.44 TND 32.94
-62.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COP 20.9K
$5.77 TND 16.62
0.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.98 COP 32.4K
$13.43 TND 38.68
-33.13%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 8,164
$2.16 TND 6.23
4.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,023
$2.98 TND 8.58
-62.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 COP 5,284
$1.05 TND 3.02
39.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,929
$0.69 TND 2.00
98.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,009
$0.74 TND 2.13
50.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,199
$0.71 TND 2.05
63.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,211
$0.52 TND 1.50
71.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 COP 3,124
$0.33 TND 0.96
163.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 8,495
$3.50 TND 10.09
-32.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.86 COP 39.2K
$6.86 TND 19.76
58.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,330
$1.10 TND 3.17
9.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 8,946
$1.09 TND 3.14
127.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,842
$0.18 TND 0.53
338.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.77 COP 147.2K
$10.00 TND 28.80
307.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 5,137
$0.30 TND 0.85
373.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,900
$0.31 TND 0.88
516.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.65 COP 27.6K
$7.52 TND 21.65
1.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,490
$0.88 TND 2.53
10.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COP 65.3M
$35.8K TND 103.0K
-49.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K COP 95.0M
$34.4K TND 99.1K
-23.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 COP 293.5K
$45.20 TND 130
79.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63 COP 34.8K
$9.57 TND 27.55
0.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36 COP 88.0K
$15.11 TND 43.50
61.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.02 COP 93.9K
$27.00 TND 77.8
-3.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 COP 68.3K
$7.42 TND 21.37
154.99%
Cinema Ticket
$3.89 COP 14.0K
$4.64 TND 13.36
-16.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 COP 1.1M
$110 TND 317
176.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,902 COP 21.3M
$2,460 TND 7,086
139.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COP 211.8K
$45.58 TND 131
28.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48 COP 117.2K
$44.60 TND 128
-27.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 367.3K
$101 TND 290
1.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 390.4K
$65.6 TND 189
64.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$474 COP 1.7M
$188 TND 542
152.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COP 1.3M
$133 TND 384
178.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$848 COP 3.1M
$336 TND 968
152.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$251 TND 722
185.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 COP 10.4M
$995 TND 2,867
188.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,375 COP 5.0M
$669 TND 1,927
105.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$542 COP 2.0M
$325 TND 936
66.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
13.6
-1.25%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026

Last update for Sfax: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $474 in Medellin versus $188 in Sfax. 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 67% 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 in Medellin versus $20 in Sfax. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $191 in Sfax – 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 Sfax: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sfax cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 61%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,522 per month in Medellin and $942 in Sfax. 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 Sfax, 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 Sfax?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $20.00 in Sfax. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Sfax?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,014 in Medellin and $628 in Sfax. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Medellin or Sfax?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sfax, where all-in costs run around $628, than in Medellin at $1,014. In Sfax it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Sfax more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sfax – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Sfax. 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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