Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tamarin Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tamarin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $992 in Tamarin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,697 in Tamarin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,402 in Tamarin, rent included.

Medellin costs about 1% more than Tamarin, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Medellin and Tamarin are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Tamarin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$6.59 MUR 309

-10.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$42.54 MUR 1,993

-22.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$5.37 MUR 252

38.36%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.58 MUR 121

-36.05%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.92 MUR 42.92

19.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.61 MUR 28.52

27.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$1.62 MUR 75.7

6.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$1.77 MUR 83.1

79.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.53 MUR 71.9

-28.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.37 MUR 17.18

240.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.33 MUR 62.5

3.76%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.18 MUR 102

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$5.61 MUR 263

-19.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$6.33 MUR 297

-8.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$9.93 MUR 465

-9.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$1.98 MUR 92.8

17.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.97 MUR 92.3

-46.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.44 MUR 67.5

5.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$2.71 MUR 127

-49.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.95 MUR 44.64

18.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.95 MUR 44.64

23.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.80 MUR 37.69

12.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.81 MUR 37.86

11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$6.77 MUR 317

-67.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$8.47 MUR 397

43.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.80 MUR 84.3

-33.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$1.62 MUR 75.7

53.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$1.12 MUR 52.3

-24.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$11.17 MUR 523

272.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$4.30 MUR 202

-66.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$2.64 MUR 123

-26.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$6.78 MUR 318

16.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.31 MUR 61.5

-24.43%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$28.9K MUR 1.4M

-39.03%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$27.5K MUR 1.3M

-2.52%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$48.69 MUR 2,281

70.49%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$16.10 MUR 754

-39.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$29.81 MUR 1,396

-21.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$50.5 MUR 2,365

-49.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$11.17 MUR 523

70.99%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$6.16 MUR 289

-35.88%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$316 COP 994.2K

$151 MUR 7,080

108.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$3,192 MUR 149.5K

87.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$59.1 MUR 2,770

1.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$47.47 MUR 2,223

-32.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$87.8 MUR 4,115

15.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$58.9 MUR 2,757

82.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$756 MUR 35.4K

-37.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$380 MUR 17.8K

-1.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$1,435 MUR 67.2K

-40.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$952 MUR 44.6K

-24.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$831 MUR 38.9K

-24.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

123.83%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Tamarin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $756 in Tamarin. 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 33% higher in Tamarin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $43.00 in Tamarin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $199 – 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 Tamarin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,488 in Tamarin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tamarin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $43.00 in Tamarin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $992 in Tamarin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tamarin, where all-in costs run around $992, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Tamarin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tamarin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Tamarin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.