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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,641 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
$8.04 COP 24.8K
$10.16 ALL 803
-20.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29 COP 148.6K
$54.3 ALL 4,291
-11.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 COP 29.0K
$11.49 ALL 907
-18.02%
Cappuccino
$2.94 COP 9,040
$2.47 ALL 195
19.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 COP 5,735
$2.49 ALL 196
-25.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 COP 4,479
$1.29 ALL 102
13.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 COP 9,882
$3.58 ALL 282
-10.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 COP 17.6K
$4.05 ALL 320
40.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,428
$2.24 ALL 177
-35.71%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 COP 7,389
$1.28 ALL 101
87.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,228
$2.44 ALL 192
-30.33%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 8,896
$3.74 ALL 295
-22.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.06 COP 30.9K
$13.57 ALL 1,071
-25.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.97 COP 30.7K
$9.12 ALL 720
9.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.20 COP 43.7K
$17.65 ALL 1,394
-19.55%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 COP 12.3K
$1.93 ALL 152
106.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 COP 4,878
$2.55 ALL 201
-38.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 COP 6,624
$2.18 ALL 172
-1.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,078
$1.96 ALL 155
17.35%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 COP 6,169
$1.08 ALL 85.1
85.19%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,646
$1.27 ALL 101
18.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 COP 3,701
$1.50 ALL 118
-20.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 COP 3,946
$0.83 ALL 65.2
54.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84 COP 11.8K
$5.00 ALL 395
-23.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.1K
$11.38 ALL 899
23.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 COP 5,256
$1.82 ALL 144
-6.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 COP 8,440
$2.04 ALL 161
34.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 COP 3,834
$0.48 ALL 38.27
160.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 COP 239.7K
$20.28 ALL 1,602
284.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,016
$3.71 ALL 293
-64.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.17 COP 6,680
$3.84 ALL 304
-43.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.29 COP 25.5K
$19.08 ALL 1,507
-56.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,172
$2.41 ALL 190
-43.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K COP 84.5M
$34.4K ALL 2.7M
-20.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K COP 112.4M
$36.0K ALL 2.8M
1.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 COP 519.2K
$105 ALL 8,269
61.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 COP 41.8K
$19.08 ALL 1,507
-28.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32 COP 87.2K
$20.97 ALL 1,656
35.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.71 COP 140.7K
$59.1 ALL 4,669
-22.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22 COP 53.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.5K
$10.26 ALL 810
-35.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$803 COP 2.5M
$355 ALL 28.0K
126.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,190 COP 28.3M
$8,347 ALL 659.3K
10.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4 COP 268.8K
$50.8 ALL 4,010
72.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4 COP 182.7K
$47.35 ALL 3,739
25.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 427.5K
$125 ALL 9,863
11.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 314.0K
$114 ALL 8,983
-10.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,071 COP 3.3M
$482 ALL 38.1K
122.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 COP 2.0M
$336 ALL 26.5K
94.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,925 COP 5.9M
$711 ALL 56.1K
170.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 COP 3.2M
$487 ALL 38.4K
115.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,123 COP 12.7M
$1,887 ALL 149.0K
118.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 COP 5.2M
$1,250 ALL 98.7K
35.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Tepelene
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$655 COP 2.0M
$701 ALL 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.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities