Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tartus Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tartus

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $637 in Tartus, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $990 in Tartus, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,344 in Tartus, rent included.

Medellin costs about 164% more than Tartus, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Tartus is 53% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.4K

$10.01 SYP 1,217

-19.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 152.0K

$45.16 SYP 5,487

6.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 31.4K

$6.95 SYP 844

42.30%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,937

$3.60 SYP 438

-13.06%

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

$1.91 COP 6,058

$2.29 SYP 279

-16.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,794

$0.81 SYP 98.9

86.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,917

$1.94 SYP 236

60.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 18.3K

$2.95 SYP 359

94.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,587

$0.48 SYP 58.7

200.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,894

$0.41 SYP 50.2

507.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,631

$0.78 SYP 95.3

126.92%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,396

$0.86 SYP 104

244.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 32.0K

$3.83 SYP 466

162.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 32.1K

$3.07 SYP 372

229.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 45.4K

$13.56 SYP 1,647

5.46%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 13.1K

$1.03 SYP 125

301.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,106

$1.38 SYP 167

16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,129

$1.09 SYP 132

106.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,150

$0.22 SYP 26.60

922.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,486

$0.22 SYP 26.60

827.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,873

$0.30 SYP 36.32

413.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,715

$0.40 SYP 48.53

192.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,148

$0.61 SYP 74.6

114.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.4K

$2.74 SYP 333

42.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 44.5K

$6.03 SYP 732

132.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,534

$1.10 SYP 134

58.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 9,112

$2.85 SYP 347

0.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,858

$0.32 SYP 39.34

281.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 255.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,155

$0.99 SYP 120

32.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,944

$1.48 SYP 180

47.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.7K

$7.76 SYP 942

12.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,334

$3.65 SYP 443

-62.47%

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

$27.8K COP 88.4M

$15.0K SYP 1.8M

85.40%

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

$35.8K COP 113.6M

$18.8K SYP 2.3M

90.54%

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

$177 COP 562.9K

$142 SYP 17.2K

25.30%

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

$13.88 COP 44.1K

$9.67 SYP 1,175

43.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 94.4K

$19.64 SYP 2,386

51.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 142.5K

$5.80 SYP 704

673.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 54.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 21.1K

$5.45 SYP 663

22.02%

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

$813 COP 2.6M

$9.56 SYP 1,161

8403.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 29.2M

$1,801 SYP 218.8K

410.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 284.1K

$11.69 SYP 1,420

665.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 187.2K

$39.82 SYP 4,838

48.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 438.8K

$45.71 SYP 5,554

202.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 324.2K

$15.29 SYP 1,857

567.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.4M

$114 SYP 13.9K

830.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

$76.3 SYP 9,268

769.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 6.0M

$233 SYP 28.4K

709.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.3M

$115 SYP 13.9K

796.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.2M

$50.7 SYP 6,164

1235.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

14.25

-23.23%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Tartus: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $114 in Tartus. 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 1236% higher in Medellin, 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $45.00 in Tartus. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $135 – making Tartus 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 Tartus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 164%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $956 in Tartus. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tartus, 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 $48.00 in Medellin and $45.00 in Tartus. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 125% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tartus, where all-in costs run around $637, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Tartus it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Tartus. 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.