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