Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tarneit

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,639 a month against $2,519 in Tarneit, rent and utilities included – about $10,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Tarneit, Australia
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Tarneit
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,519
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Tarneit

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 Tarneit actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $2,519 in Tarneit, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Tarneit $2,519

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $3,640 in Tarneit, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Tarneit $3,640

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $4,760 in Tarneit, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Tarneit $4,760

Medellin is about 35% cheaper than Tarneit, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Medellin and Tarneit sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Tarneit by 85%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Tarneit
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.6K
$17.61 A$25.03
-54.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 148.7K
$84.9 A$121
-44.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.0K
$12.17 A$17.30
-21.94%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,532
$4.02 A$5.71
-25.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,688
$3.06 A$4.36
-41.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,465
$2.48 A$3.53
-43.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$9.61 A$13.67
-66.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.2K
$8.45 A$12.01
-31.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Tarneit
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,774
$0.87 A$1.23
73.56%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,517
$1.24 A$1.77
91.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,601
$1.37 A$1.94
29.20%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,138
$5.16 A$7.34
-43.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.2K
$10.41 A$14.80
-2.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.2K
$9.89 A$14.06
-0.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.2K
$14.98 A$21.30
-6.61%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.6K
$4.17 A$5.93
-4.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,907
$3.13 A$4.45
-50.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,901
$3.11 A$4.43
-29.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,904
$4.86 A$6.91
-55.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,205
$3.08 A$4.38
-36.36%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,025
$2.47 A$3.52
-35.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,622
$2.46 A$3.50
-53.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,930
$1.57 A$2.24
-21.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.5K
$45.03 A$64.0
-91.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.3K
$12.54 A$17.83
9.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,247
$5.71 A$8.11
-70.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,139
$5.29 A$7.53
-57.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Tarneit
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,692
$2.78 A$3.96
-57.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 244.6K
$94.4 A$134
-18.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,009
$4.43 A$6.29
-71.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,474
$1.37 A$1.95
49.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.0K
$30.03 A$42.69
-71.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,258
$1.42 A$2.01
-4.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 107.7M
$29.9K A$42.5K
13.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.6M
$26.4K A$37.5K
31.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Tarneit
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 536.4K
$178 A$253
-4.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.8K
$28.26 A$40.18
-52.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.7K
$56.9 A$80.9
-50.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Tarneit
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 138.2K
$56.8 A$80.7
-23.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.3K
$16.11 A$22.90
6.70%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.9K
$17.30 A$24.59
-60.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Tarneit
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
$2,489 A$3,538
-67.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.8M
$30.0K A$42.6K
-69.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Tarneit
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 267.8K
$80.4 A$114
5.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 183.2K
$50.6 A$71.9
14.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 426.7K
$120 A$171
12.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 309.4K
$131 A$187
-25.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Tarneit
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$1,380 A$1,962
-12.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$1,207 A$1,716
-46.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$2,347 A$3,337
-13.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$1,797 A$2,555
-43.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.2M
$6,047 A$8,598
-31.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.0M
$4,601 A$6,542
-58.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Tarneit
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
5.9
85.42%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Tarneit: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Tarneit
$1.2K 88.2% $566
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Tarneit
$356 20% $59
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Tarneit
$263 24.4% $52
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Tarneit
$313 84.4% $143
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Tarneit
$172 1.8% $3
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Tarneit
$117 24.9% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Tarneit
$91 58.8% $34

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $1,380 in Tarneit. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $85 in Tarneit. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $356 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇦🇺 Tarneit
🕒 Local time
13:11 1:11 PM
05:11 5:11 AM
16 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
34,562
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 3,162 COP (10,000 COP = 3.16 USD). 1 EUR = 3,528 COP (10,000 COP = 2.83 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 AUD (1 AUD = 0.703 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 AUD (1 AUD = 0.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Tarneit 14,650 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Tarneit

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 Tarneit: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Tarneit?
Yes – Tarneit is pricier by about 54%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $3,779 in Tarneit. 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,208 there versus $1,380 in Tarneit.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Tarneit?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $85 in Tarneit. 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 Tarneit?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,639 in Medellin and $2,519 in Tarneit. That makes Medellin about 35% cheaper.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Tarneit?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,639, than in Tarneit at $2,519. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tarneit it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Tarneit 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Medellin is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 35% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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