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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,014 per month in Medellin vs $1,863 in Taby, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,596 per month in Medellin vs $2,865 in Taby, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,178 per month in Medellin vs $3,868 in Taby, rent included.

Medellin is about 46% cheaper than Taby, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Taby is 38% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14 COP 22.2K
$13.27 SEK 122
-53.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05 COP 119.3K
$67.3 SEK 618
-50.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.32 COP 26.4K
$10.39 SEK 95.5
-29.55%
Cappuccino
$1.66 COP 5,987
$4.68 SEK 42.99
-64.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,987
$3.21 SEK 29.52
-65.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,822
$2.54 SEK 23.37
-69.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 COP 6,188
$7.54 SEK 69.3
-77.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 11.5K
$8.57 SEK 78.7
-63.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 COP 4,012
$1.79 SEK 16.42
-37.99%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,719
$3.16 SEK 29.04
-58.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,980
$4.05 SEK 37.19
-65.93%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 8,009
$4.58 SEK 42.06
-51.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.34 COP 15.7K
$12.72 SEK 117
-65.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COP 20.9K
$11.92 SEK 110
-51.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.98 COP 32.4K
$19.33 SEK 178
-53.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 8,164
$3.44 SEK 31.62
-34.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,023
$2.66 SEK 24.48
-58.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 COP 5,284
$1.60 SEK 14.69
-8.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,929
$4.41 SEK 40.55
-68.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,009
$2.01 SEK 18.44
-44.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,199
$1.89 SEK 17.37
-38.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,211
$2.62 SEK 24.08
-66.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 COP 3,124
$1.56 SEK 14.36
-44.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 8,495
$7.35 SEK 67.6
-68.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.86 COP 39.2K
$14.20 SEK 130
-23.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,330
$1.74 SEK 15.97
-31.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 8,946
$2.28 SEK 21.00
8.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Taby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,842
$4.19 SEK 38.50
-81.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.77 COP 147.2K
$101 SEK 929
-59.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 5,137
$6.13 SEK 56.3
-76.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,900
$1.19 SEK 10.98
60.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.65 COP 27.6K
$20.72 SEK 190
-63.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,490
$1.90 SEK 17.47
-48.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COP 65.3M
$32.5K SEK 298.7K
-44.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K COP 95.0M
$33.7K SEK 309.9K
-21.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 COP 293.5K
$88.5 SEK 813
-8.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63 COP 34.8K
$29.52 SEK 271
-67.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36 COP 88.0K
$37.76 SEK 347
-35.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.02 COP 93.9K
$47.13 SEK 433
-44.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 COP 68.3K
$25.77 SEK 237
-26.58%
Cinema Ticket
$3.89 COP 14.0K
$17.94 SEK 165
-78.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 COP 1.1M
$165 SEK 1,512
84.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,902 COP 21.3M
$4,101 SEK 37.7K
43.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COP 211.8K
$107 SEK 983
-45.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48 COP 117.2K
$44.58 SEK 410
-27.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 367.3K
$117 SEK 1,073
-12.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 390.4K
$156 SEK 1,430
-30.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Taby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$474 COP 1.7M
$828 SEK 7,613
-42.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COP 1.3M
$658 SEK 6,051
-43.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$848 COP 3.1M
$1,375 SEK 12.6K
-38.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$1,079 SEK 9,918
-33.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 COP 10.4M
$4,263 SEK 39.2K
-32.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,375 COP 5.0M
$3,009 SEK 27.7K
-54.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$542 COP 2.0M
$3,678 SEK 33.8K
-85.28%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Taby: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $474 in Medellin versus $828 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 579% 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 in Medellin versus $67 in Taby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 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 84%, 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 $1,522 per month in Medellin and $2,794 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 Taby?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 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 vs Taby?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,014 in Medellin and $1,863 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 Medellin or Taby?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,014, than in Taby at $1,863. 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.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities