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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $632 in Sfax, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,014 in Sfax, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,396 in Sfax, rent included.

Medellin costs about 166% more than Sfax, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Sfax is 54% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.0K
$3.52 TND 10.21
127.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 149.4K
$20.74 TND 60.2
130.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 30.8K
$5.05 TND 14.65
95.84%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,767
$0.70 TND 2.04
347.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 5,954
$0.60 TND 1.73
218.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,712
$0.25 TND 0.72
504.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,747
$1.58 TND 4.57
97.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 17.9K
$2.04 TND 5.91
181.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,509
$0.51 TND 1.49
182.35%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,759
$0.25 TND 0.73
896.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,535
$1.34 TND 3.89
32.09%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,235
$1.64 TND 4.76
80.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 31.4K
$12.81 TND 37.16
-21.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 31.6K
$5.62 TND 16.31
80.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 44.6K
$14.27 TND 41.40
0.21%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 12.9K
$1.85 TND 5.37
123.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,019
$3.27 TND 9.47
-50.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,007
$1.07 TND 3.10
110.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,028
$0.76 TND 2.20
196.05%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,375
$0.77 TND 2.24
164.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,790
$0.80 TND 2.31
92.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,651
$0.59 TND 1.70
98.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,077
$0.35 TND 1.02
274.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$3.87 TND 11.24
0.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.7K
$7.04 TND 20.43
99.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,439
$1.15 TND 3.33
51.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 8,956
$1.06 TND 3.08
170.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,792
$0.18 TND 0.52
577.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 251.1K
$10.14 TND 29.42
693.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,084
$0.31 TND 0.89
322.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,825
$0.35 TND 1.02
525.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.2K
$7.67 TND 22.24
13.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,260
$0.84 TND 2.44
63.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 86.9M
$37.9K TND 109.9K
-26.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 111.6M
$35.1K TND 101.9K
1.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 553.2K
$46.48 TND 135
281.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 43.3K
$9.50 TND 27.56
46.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 92.8K
$15.06 TND 43.67
97.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 140.1K
$28.18 TND 81.8
59.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 53.4K
$7.42 TND 21.53
130.73%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.7K
$4.67 TND 13.53
42.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.5M
$101 TND 292
706.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 28.7M
$2,542 TND 7,372
261.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 279.3K
$43.78 TND 127
104.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 184.0K
$36.69 TND 106
60.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 431.2K
$114 TND 329
21.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 318.7K
$68.8 TND 199
48.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.3M
$198 TND 574
436.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
$139 TND 405
375.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 5.9M
$341 TND 990
453.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.2M
$221 TND 641
364.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.1M
$1,034 TND 3,000
304.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.2M
$742 TND 2,152
125.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.1M
$337 TND 977
101.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
13.6
-19.56%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Sfax: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $198 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 101% 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 $21.00 in Sfax. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $198 – making Sfax 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 Sfax: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sfax cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 166%, 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 $947 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 in Sfax?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $21.00 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 and in Sfax?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $632 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 living in Medellin or in Sfax?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sfax, where all-in costs run around $632, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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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