Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and TerniCost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Terni
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,323 in Terni, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,999 in Terni, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $2,676 in Terni, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 23% cheaper than Terni, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Terni are more affordable than the global median – Medellin24% lower, Terni1% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Terni
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COP 21.4K
$17.46€15.02
-65.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COP 117.4K
$48.75€41.94
-32.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COP 25.3K
$9.92€8.54
-28.53%
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 6,115
$1.87€1.61
-8.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,924
$2.72€2.34
-59.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,781
$1.31€1.13
-40.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COP 5,997
$5.36€4.61
-68.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COP 11.0K
$5.24€4.51
-41.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Terni
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COP 3,906
$1.25€1.07
-12.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 4,508
$2.13€1.83
-40.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,922
$2.37€2.04
-41.77%
Eggs
$2.19COP 7,827
$3.32€2.86
-34.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COP 15.7K
$13.19€11.35
-66.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COP 20.1K
$9.41€8.09
-40.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COP 31.8K
$13.78€11.85
-35.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 8,349
$2.24€1.93
4.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,777
$1.88€1.62
-43.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COP 5,374
$1.14€0.98
31.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,924
$2.28€1.96
-39.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COP 4,111
$1.62€1.40
-29.01%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,155
$1.72€1.48
-32.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COP 3,182
$0.84€0.72
5.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COP 2,997
$0.41€0.36
104.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COP 8,145
$6.40€5.51
-64.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COP 38.0K
$8.18€7.04
30.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,284
$1.37€1.18
-12.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COP 8,824
$1.65€1.42
49.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Terni
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COP 3,056
$1.67€1.43
-48.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COP 147.9K
$34.26€29.47
20.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COP 5,264
$5.00€4.30
-70.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COP 7,009
$1.37€1.17
43.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COP 27.6K
$25.43€21.88
-69.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COP 3,409
$2.02€1.74
-52.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
$34.4K€29.6K
-47.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
$32.9K€28.3K
-19.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Terni
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COP 293.7K
$176€152
-53.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COP 33.9K
$14.16€12.18
-32.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COP 86.5K
$31.06€26.72
-21.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Terni
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COP 92.4K
$53.1€45.66
-51.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COP 67.9K
$17.00€14.63
11.76%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COP 14.0K
$10.26€8.83
-61.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Terni
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COP 1.1M
$353€304
-12.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COP 21.3M
$5,880€5,058
1.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Terni
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COP 209.5K
$66.3€57.1
-11.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COP 115.5K
$35.02€30.13
-7.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COP 366.4K
$89.7€77.1
14.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 387.2K
$88.9€76.5
21.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Terni
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COP 1.7M
$352€303
35.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COP 1.4M
$353€304
7.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COP 3.0M
$744€640
12.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COP 2.6M
$564€485
28.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COP 10.0M
$1,383€1,189
101.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COP 4.3M
$806€693
50.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Terni
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COP 1.8M
$1,554€1,336
-67.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
3.69
263.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Terni: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $352 in Terni. 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 204% higher in Terni, 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 $49.00 in Terni. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $266 – 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 Terni: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Terni cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Terni is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,984 in Terni. 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 Terni?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $49.00 in Terni. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Terni?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $1,323 in Terni. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Terni?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Terni at $1,323. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Terni it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Terni 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 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, Terni makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.