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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $607 in Sfax, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $984 in Sfax, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,360 in Sfax, rent included.

Medellin costs about 70% more than Sfax, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Sfax are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Sfax 55% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$3.37 TND 9.85
82.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$20.38 TND 59.6
59.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$3.30 TND 9.67
122.42%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$0.78 TND 2.27
120.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$0.64 TND 1.89
64.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$0.25 TND 0.73
208.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$1.56 TND 4.55
8.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$1.92 TND 5.61
65.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$0.53 TND 1.56
98.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$0.16 TND 0.46
712.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$1.50 TND 4.38
-6.67%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$1.58 TND 4.63
36.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$11.15 TND 32.62
-60.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$5.76 TND 16.84
2.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$13.29 TND 38.88
-34.99%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$2.23 TND 6.53
2.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$2.95 TND 8.64
-62.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$1.05 TND 3.08
45.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$0.69 TND 2.03
95.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$0.80 TND 2.35
41.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$0.77 TND 2.25
46.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$0.51 TND 1.50
66.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$0.31 TND 0.90
193.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$3.60 TND 10.55
-35.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$6.65 TND 19.46
86.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$1.10 TND 3.22
9.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$1.05 TND 3.08
137.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$0.21 TND 0.61
300.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$10.10 TND 29.56
301.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$0.32 TND 0.95
343.75%
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
$7.59 TND 22.22
0.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$0.82 TND 2.40
20.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$36.3K TND 106.2K
-50.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$35.0K TND 102.5K
-24.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$45.93 TND 134
75.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$9.42 TND 27.57
5.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$14.56 TND 42.61
66.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$27.04 TND 79.1
-7.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$7.49 TND 21.92
155.67%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$4.67 TND 13.68
-14.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$110 TND 322
177.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$2,482 TND 7,262
144.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$44.06 TND 129
31.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$44.10 TND 129
-26.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$101 TND 297
-0.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$65.1 TND 190
65.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$187 TND 546
155.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$134 TND 391
181.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$336 TND 984
151.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$249 TND 729
193.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$1,017 TND 2,977
216.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$647 TND 1,893
112.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sfax
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$327 TND 957
88.51%
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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sfax: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $187 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 89% 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 $20.00 in Sfax. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $188 – 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 70%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $910 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 $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 and in Sfax?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $607 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 $607, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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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