Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tanga

For one person, living is cheaper in Tanga: $38.44 a month against $1,625 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $19,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Tanga
🇹🇿 Tanzania
$38.44
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Tanga

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Tanga actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,625 per month in Medellin vs $38.44 in Tanga, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,625
  • Tanga $38.44

A couple spends around $2,412 per month in Medellin vs $55.9 in Tanga, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,412
  • Tanga $55.9

A family of three spends $3,199 per month in Medellin vs $73.3 in Tanga, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,199
  • Tanga $73.3

Medellin costs about 4126% more than Tanga, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Tanga is 97% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Tanga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.30 COP 26.3K
$1.49 TZS 3,910
457.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.91 COP 148.7K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.24 COP 29.3K
$3.46 TZS 9,065
167.05%
Cappuccino
$3.05 COP 9,676
$0.55 TZS 1,448
454.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,707
$0.29 TZS 758
520.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,382
$0.37 TZS 961
272.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 COP 10.3K
$0.91 TZS 2,391
256.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.56 COP 17.6K
$1.14 TZS 2,998
387.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Tanga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 COP 4,760
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.37 COP 7,508
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,377
-
-
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,379
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.22 COP 32.4K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.74 COP 30.9K
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.90 COP 44.1K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.13 COP 13.1K
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,839
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 COP 7,052
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 COP 7,194
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 COP 6,311
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 COP 5,285
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 COP 3,742
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,919
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.87 COP 12.3K
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$13.78 COP 43.7K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,256
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 COP 7,615
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Tanga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 COP 3,944
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.2 COP 248.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,044
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 COP 6,803
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.37 COP 26.5K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,288
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K COP 110.2M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 110.0M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Tanga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 COP 528.4K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.62 COP 43.2K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.12 COP 92.3K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Tanga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.09 COP 143.0K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.18 COP 54.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.97 COP 22.1K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Tanga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.5M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,041 COP 28.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Tanga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.8 COP 278.4K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.2 COP 184.4K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 440.7K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.9 COP 313.5K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Tanga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 COP 2.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,881 COP 6.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,008 COP 3.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,988 COP 12.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,702 COP 5.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Tanga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$663 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
0
-

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

Last update for Medellin: October 19, 2026

Last update for Tanga: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$619
Tanga
–
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$298
Tanga
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$209
Tanga
–
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$173
Tanga
–
Eating Out
Medellin
$171
Tanga
–
Getting Around
Medellin
$95
Tanga
–
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$59
Tanga
–
Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇹🇿 Tanga
🕒 Local time
08:24 8:24 AM
16:24 4:24 PM
8 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
393,429
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TZS, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Tanzanian Shilling exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 2,619 TZS (10,000 TZS = 3.82 USD). 1 EUR = 2,944 TZS (10,000 TZS = 3.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Tanga 12,790 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Tanga

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Tanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tanga cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 4126%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,437 per month in Medellin and $57.7 in Tanga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Tanga?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tanga, where all-in costs run around $38.44, than in Medellin at $1,625. In Tanga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Tanga more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tanga – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tanga. 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.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?