Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Taby Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Taby

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $2,190 in Taby, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $3,162 in Taby, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $4,133 in Taby, rent included.

Medellin is about 22% cheaper than Taby, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Taby sit above the global median – Medellin by 25%, Taby by 59%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03 COP 25.1K
$14.60 SEK 140
-45.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26 COP 150.8K
$66.5 SEK 636
-27.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.77 COP 30.5K
$10.28 SEK 98.3
-4.96%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,095
$4.39 SEK 41.99
-33.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 COP 6,074
$3.54 SEK 33.89
-45.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 COP 4,754
$2.51 SEK 24.00
-39.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 COP 9,663
$7.52 SEK 71.9
-58.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 COP 17.9K
$9.47 SEK 90.6
-39.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,262
$1.71 SEK 16.39
-20.47%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,460
$3.29 SEK 31.43
-27.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,314
$3.98 SEK 38.08
-57.29%
Eggs
$2.87 COP 8,967
$5.19 SEK 49.64
-44.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 COP 31.1K
$13.18 SEK 126
-24.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.78 COP 33.7K
$13.65 SEK 131
-21.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 COP 46.0K
$18.20 SEK 174
-19.07%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 COP 12.8K
$3.40 SEK 32.51
20.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 COP 4,911
$2.72 SEK 26.02
-42.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 COP 6,642
$2.03 SEK 19.43
4.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 COP 6,917
$4.73 SEK 45.25
-53.28%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 COP 6,396
$1.85 SEK 17.66
10.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,700
$1.80 SEK 17.27
-16.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 COP 3,718
$2.42 SEK 23.12
-50.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 COP 3,619
$1.96 SEK 18.76
-40.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$7.49 SEK 71.6
-47.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.44 COP 45.1K
$12.65 SEK 121
14.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 4,948
$2.05 SEK 19.57
-22.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 8,836
$2.30 SEK 21.96
23.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Taby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,650
$4.47 SEK 42.73
-73.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.7 COP 242.9K
$107 SEK 1,026
-27.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,014
$6.18 SEK 59.1
-79.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,537
$1.54 SEK 14.71
35.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.62 COP 26.9K
$57.9 SEK 554
-85.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,056
$1.90 SEK 18.15
-31.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K COP 86.4M
$33.8K SEK 322.9K
-18.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K COP 110.9M
$33.5K SEK 320.7K
5.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 COP 550.1K
$183 SEK 1,746
-3.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 41.8K
$27.00 SEK 258
-50.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89 COP 93.4K
$40.92 SEK 391
-26.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.76 COP 139.8K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 COP 53.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 COP 19.4K
$17.44 SEK 167
-64.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 COP 2.5M
$173 SEK 1,653
359.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,019 COP 28.2M
$17.4K SEK 166.1K
-48.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 COP 267.5K
$103 SEK 988
-17.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5 COP 182.7K
$55.5 SEK 531
5.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 COP 425.9K
$98.4 SEK 941
38.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 COP 322.2K
$197 SEK 1,888
-47.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Taby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,060 COP 3.3M
$1,031 SEK 9,861
2.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 COP 2.1M
$886 SEK 8,475
-23.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 COP 6.3M
$1,438 SEK 13.8K
39.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 COP 3.7M
$1,247 SEK 11.9K
-6.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,111 COP 12.8M
$6,207 SEK 59.4K
-33.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,701 COP 5.3M
$7,277 SEK 69.6K
-76.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$665 COP 2.1M
$3,440 SEK 32.9K
-80.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.2
241.87%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Taby: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $1,031 in Taby. 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 417% higher in Taby, 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 $67.0 in Taby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $397 – making Medellin 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 Taby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Taby cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Taby is pricier by about 28%, 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 $2,574 per month in Medellin and $3,285 in Taby. 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 Medellin, 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 Taby?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $67.0 in Taby. 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 Taby?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,716 in Medellin and $2,190 in Taby. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Taby?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in Taby at $2,190. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Taby it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Taby more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – 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 Taby?
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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Taby makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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