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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $1,024 in Tamarin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,710 in Tamarin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $2,396 in Tamarin, rent included.

Medellin is about 1% cheaper than Tamarin, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Medellin and Tamarin are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Tamarin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$6.47 MUR 304

-8.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$41.92 MUR 1,974

-20.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$5.51 MUR 260

31.22%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.58 MUR 122

-36.82%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.84 MUR 39.63

29.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.59 MUR 27.92

23.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.69 MUR 79.7

2.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$1.73 MUR 81.7

86.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.49 MUR 70.0

-29.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.40 MUR 18.77

222.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.31 MUR 61.8

0.76%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.11 MUR 99.5

7.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$5.35 MUR 252

-18.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$6.24 MUR 294

-5.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$9.62 MUR 453

-10.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.07 MUR 97.6

8.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.97 MUR 92.7

-45.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.46 MUR 68.7

4.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$2.67 MUR 126

-46.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.02 MUR 48.09

14.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.98 MUR 46.33

19.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.78 MUR 36.82

14.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.81 MUR 37.96

11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$6.49 MUR 306

-65.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$8.44 MUR 397

30.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.71 MUR 80.5

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$1.62 MUR 76.1

46.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$1.18 MUR 55.5

-28.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$10.99 MUR 517

281.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$4.47 MUR 211

-68.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$2.74 MUR 129

-30.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$6.69 MUR 315

15.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.31 MUR 61.6

-22.90%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$28.3K MUR 1.3M

-37.94%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$27.4K MUR 1.3M

-3.18%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$49.29 MUR 2,321

69.77%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$16.05 MUR 756

-41.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$30.43 MUR 1,433

-20.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$50.9 MUR 2,396

-50.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$11.10 MUR 523

72.43%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$6.12 MUR 288

-33.01%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$153 MUR 7,186

104.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$3,115 MUR 146.7K

92.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$59.2 MUR 2,789

-1.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$47.35 MUR 2,230

-31.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$87.1 MUR 4,103

14.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$59.3 MUR 2,794

82.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$781 MUR 36.8K

-38.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$388 MUR 18.3K

-2.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$1,452 MUR 68.4K

-42.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$925 MUR 43.6K

-21.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$851 MUR 40.1K

-36.44%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Tamarin: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $781 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 57% higher in Tamarin, 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 $42.00 in Tamarin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $196 – 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 – Tamarin 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,536 in Tamarin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $42.00 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 $1,017 in Medellin and $1,024 in Tamarin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Tamarin at $1,024. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tamarin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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