Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and TabyCost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Taby
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,876 in Taby, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $2,903 in Taby, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $3,930 in Taby, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 45% cheaper than Taby, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Taby is 40% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$13.04SEK 126
-52.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$68.7SEK 665
-52.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$10.52SEK 102
-30.23%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$4.70SEK 45.46
-63.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$3.28SEK 31.76
-67.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$2.55SEK 24.65
-69.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$7.19SEK 69.6
-76.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$8.60SEK 83.3
-63.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.72SEK 16.61
-38.95%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$3.23SEK 31.26
-59.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$4.05SEK 39.24
-65.43%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$4.73SEK 45.79
-54.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$13.00SEK 126
-66.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$11.85SEK 115
-50.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$19.55SEK 189
-55.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$3.59SEK 34.79
-36.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$2.58SEK 24.95
-56.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$1.56SEK 15.09
-1.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$4.55SEK 44.09
-70.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$1.91SEK 18.54
-40.84%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$1.85SEK 17.94
-38.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$2.63SEK 25.50
-67.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$1.61SEK 15.59
-43.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$7.49SEK 72.5
-68.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$12.47SEK 121
-0.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$1.71SEK 16.60
-29.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$2.38SEK 23.03
4.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Taby
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$4.15SEK 40.20
-79.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$104SEK 1,010
-61.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$6.27SEK 60.7
-77.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$1.22SEK 11.85
57.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$21.47SEK 208
-64.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$1.93SEK 18.65
-48.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$32.9KSEK 318.2K
-45.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$33.8KSEK 327.0K
-21.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$91.4SEK 885
-11.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$29.59SEK 286
-66.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$37.81SEK 366
-36.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$47.86SEK 463
-47.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$25.81SEK 250
-25.80%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$18.17SEK 176
-78.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$165SEK 1,597
85.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$4,166SEK 40.3K
45.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$106SEK 1,031
-45.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$43.23SEK 419
-25.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$118SEK 1,140
-14.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$158SEK 1,528
-31.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Taby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$846SEK 8,190
-43.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$644SEK 6,236
-41.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$1,415SEK 13.7K
-40.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$1,070SEK 10.4K
-31.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$6,100SEK 59.1K
-47.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$7,212SEK 69.8K
-80.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$3,431SEK 33.2K
-82.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.16
222.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Taby: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $846 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 456% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $69.0 in Taby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $382 – 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 82%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $2,814 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 $33.00 in Medellin and $69.0 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 $1,031 in Medellin and $1,876 in Taby. 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 Taby?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Taby at $1,876. 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.