😐A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $1,227 in Tepelene, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $1,874 in Tepelene, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $2,520 in Tepelene, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 34% more than Tepelene, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Tepelene is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$10.16ALL 803
-20.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$54.3ALL 4,291
-11.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$11.49ALL 907
-18.02%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$2.47ALL 195
19.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$2.49ALL 196
-25.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$1.29ALL 102
13.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
$3.58ALL 282
-10.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$4.05ALL 320
40.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$2.24ALL 177
-35.71%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$1.28ALL 101
87.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$2.44ALL 192
-30.33%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$3.74ALL 295
-22.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$13.57ALL 1,071
-25.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$9.12ALL 720
9.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$17.65ALL 1,394
-19.55%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$1.93ALL 152
106.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$2.55ALL 201
-38.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$2.18ALL 172
-1.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
$1.96ALL 155
17.35%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$1.08ALL 85.1
85.19%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$1.27ALL 101
18.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$1.50ALL 118
-20.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$0.83ALL 65.2
54.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$5.00ALL 395
-23.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$11.38ALL 899
23.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
$1.82ALL 144
-6.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
$2.04ALL 161
34.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
$0.48ALL 38.27
160.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
$20.28ALL 1,602
284.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$3.71ALL 293
-64.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$3.84ALL 304
-43.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$19.08ALL 1,507
-56.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$2.41ALL 190
-43.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$34.4KALL 2.7M
-20.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$36.0KALL 2.8M
1.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$105ALL 8,269
61.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$19.08ALL 1,507
-28.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$20.97ALL 1,656
35.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
$59.1ALL 4,669
-22.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$10.26ALL 810
-35.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$355ALL 28.0K
126.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$8,347ALL 659.3K
10.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$50.8ALL 4,010
72.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$47.35ALL 3,739
25.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$125ALL 9,863
11.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$114ALL 8,983
-10.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$482ALL 38.1K
122.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$336ALL 26.5K
94.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$711ALL 56.1K
170.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$487ALL 38.4K
115.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
$1,887ALL 149.0K
118.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
$1,250ALL 98.7K
35.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$701ALL 55.3K
-6.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
5.64
93.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Tepelene: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $482 in Tepelene. 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 7% higher in Tepelene, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $54.0 in Tepelene. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $300 – 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 Tepelene: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tepelene cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 34%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $2,462 per month in Medellin and $1,841 in Tepelene. 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 Tepelene, 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 in Tepelene?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $54.0 in Tepelene. 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 Tepelene?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,641 in Medellin and $1,227 in Tepelene. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Tepelene?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tepelene, where all-in costs run around $1,227, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Tepelene it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Tepelene more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tepelene – 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 Tepelene?
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 Tepelene. 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.