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