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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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