Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and TamΓ‘si Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and TamΓ‘si

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $1,025 in TamΓ‘si, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,585 in TamΓ‘si, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $2,145 in TamΓ‘si, rent included.

Medellin is about 1% cheaper than TamΓ‘si, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
TamΓ‘si
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95 COPΒ 20.8K
$7.67 FtΒ 2,320
-22.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33 COPΒ 116.3K
$45.89 FtΒ 13.9K
-27.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.23 COPΒ 25.2K
$5.63 FtΒ 1,703
28.42%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COPΒ 5,687
$2.06 FtΒ 624
-20.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,821
$1.49 FtΒ 451
-26.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COPΒ 2,548
$1.39 FtΒ 419
-47.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 COPΒ 6,065
$2.27 FtΒ 687
-23.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 COPΒ 11.3K
$2.12 FtΒ 640
52.36%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
TamΓ‘si
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COPΒ 3,662
$1.05 FtΒ 317
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.29 COPΒ 4,515
$1.60 FtΒ 485
-19.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 COPΒ 4,617
$1.18 FtΒ 358
11.86%
Eggs
$2.27 COPΒ 7,927
$2.04 FtΒ 616
11.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.35 COPΒ 15.2K
$7.70 FtΒ 2,330
-43.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COPΒ 20.5K
$5.65 FtΒ 1,711
4.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.61 COPΒ 30.0K
$11.26 FtΒ 3,407
-23.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.25 COPΒ 7,844
$1.37 FtΒ 414
64.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COPΒ 3,733
$1.41 FtΒ 426
-24.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COPΒ 5,322
$1.75 FtΒ 528
-13.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COPΒ 4,964
$2.77 FtΒ 839
-48.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 COPΒ 4,084
$0.96 FtΒ 291
21.87%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COPΒ 4,077
$1.19 FtΒ 359
-1.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,096
$1.43 FtΒ 432
-37.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COPΒ 3,146
$0.48 FtΒ 145
87.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 COPΒ 7,837
$6.36 FtΒ 1,924
-64.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.04 COPΒ 38.5K
$4.16 FtΒ 1,260
165.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 COPΒ 3,977
$0.92 FtΒ 280
23.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 COPΒ 8,301
$1.46 FtΒ 442
63.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
TamΓ‘si
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COPΒ 2,916
$1.18 FtΒ 357
-28.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.95 COPΒ 146.4K
$25.37 FtΒ 7,675
65.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COPΒ 4,912
$2.88 FtΒ 870
-51.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 COPΒ 6,634
$1.29 FtΒ 390
47.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.75 COPΒ 27.0K
$17.46 FtΒ 5,283
-55.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 COPΒ 3,509
$1.68 FtΒ 509
-39.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COPΒ 61.4M
$26.2K FtΒ 7.9M
-33.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 92.5M
$25.3K FtΒ 7.6M
4.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
TamΓ‘si
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.7 COPΒ 292.1K
$105 FtΒ 31.7K
-20.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45 COPΒ 33.0K
$24.87 FtΒ 7,524
-62.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11 COPΒ 84.1K
$13.41 FtΒ 4,058
79.79%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
TamΓ‘si
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.31 COPΒ 88.3K
$46.78 FtΒ 14.2K
-45.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COPΒ 66.8K
$16.60 FtΒ 5,023
15.30%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COPΒ 14.3K
$6.98 FtΒ 2,111
-41.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
TamΓ‘si
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$312 COPΒ 1.1M
$223 FtΒ 67.4K
39.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,993 COPΒ 20.9M
$6,210 FtΒ 1.9M
-3.50%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
TamΓ‘si
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0 COPΒ 202.6K
$82.9 FtΒ 25.1K
-30.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56 COPΒ 113.6K
$29.76 FtΒ 9,004
9.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.6 COPΒ 347.7K
$69.5 FtΒ 21.0K
43.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 COPΒ 378.8K
$58.1 FtΒ 17.6K
86.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
TamΓ‘si
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 COPΒ 1.7M
$451 FtΒ 136.4K
7.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.3M
$339 FtΒ 102.6K
11.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$837 COPΒ 2.9M
$633 FtΒ 191.7K
32.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$723 COPΒ 2.5M
$539 FtΒ 163.2K
34.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,840 COPΒ 9.9M
$3,333 FtΒ 1.0M
-14.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,223 COPΒ 4.3M
$2,104 FtΒ 636.7K
-41.88%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
TamΓ‘si
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$541 COPΒ 1.9M
$1,251 FtΒ 378.3K
-56.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
5.85
129.57%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for TamΓ‘si: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $451 in TamΓ‘si. 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 131% higher in TamΓ‘si, 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 $46.00 in TamΓ‘si. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $193 – 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 TamΓ‘si: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is TamΓ‘si cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – TamΓ‘si 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.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,537 in TamΓ‘si. 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 TamΓ‘si?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $46.00 in TamΓ‘si. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafΓ© pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs TamΓ‘si?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $1,025 in TamΓ‘si. 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 TamΓ‘si?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in TamΓ‘si at $1,025. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in TamΓ‘si it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or TamΓ‘si 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 TamΓ‘si?
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, TamΓ‘si makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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