Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tepelene Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tepelene

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,215 in Tepelene, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,839 in Tepelene, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $2,462 in Tepelene, rent included.

Medellin is about 15% cheaper than Tepelene, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Tepelene are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Tepelene 9% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$11.56 ALL 943
-46.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$59.3 ALL 4,840
-45.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$9.29 ALL 758
-20.99%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$2.04 ALL 167
-15.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$1.84 ALL 150
-42.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$1.00 ALL 81.3
-23.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$2.86 ALL 234
-40.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$4.08 ALL 333
-22.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$2.12 ALL 173
-50.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$1.08 ALL 88.0
20.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$2.23 ALL 182
-37.22%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$3.95 ALL 322
-45.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$13.02 ALL 1,062
-66.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$7.82 ALL 638
-24.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$15.56 ALL 1,269
-44.47%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$1.76 ALL 144
29.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$2.77 ALL 226
-59.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$2.04 ALL 167
-25.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$1.92 ALL 157
-29.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$1.31 ALL 107
-13.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$1.32 ALL 107
-14.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$1.51 ALL 123
-43.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$0.78 ALL 63.7
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$4.19 ALL 342
-44.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$10.45 ALL 853
18.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$1.59 ALL 130
-24.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$2.14 ALL 175
16.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$0.45 ALL 37.11
86.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$18.91 ALL 1,543
114.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$3.48 ALL 284
-59.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$3.18 ALL 259
-39.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$17.92 ALL 1,462
-57.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$2.05 ALL 167
-51.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$39.7K ALL 3.2M
-54.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$35.4K ALL 2.9M
-24.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$106 ALL 8,681
-24.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$18.19 ALL 1,484
-45.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$18.67 ALL 1,522
29.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$55.0 ALL 4,482
-54.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$25.34 ALL 2,067
-24.43%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$9.32 ALL 760
-57.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$161 ALL 13.1K
89.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$5,601 ALL 456.8K
8.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$60.9 ALL 4,964
-4.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$50.9 ALL 4,150
-36.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$106 ALL 8,616
-4.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$127 ALL 10.3K
-14.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$455 ALL 37.1K
4.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$341 ALL 27.8K
10.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$620 ALL 50.6K
36.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$438 ALL 35.7K
66.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$1,819 ALL 148.4K
76.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$1,239 ALL 101.0K
10.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$658 ALL 53.7K
-6.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
5.52
143.30%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Tepelene: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $455 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 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 $59.0 in Tepelene. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $280 – 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 – Tepelene is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,823 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 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 in Tepelene?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $59.0 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 $1,031 in Medellin and $1,215 in Tepelene. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Tepelene?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Tepelene at $1,215. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tepelene it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Tepelene 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 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tepelene makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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