Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and TerniCost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Terni
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $1,316 in Terni, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $2,040 in Terni, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $2,764 in Terni, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 25% more than Terni, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Terni is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Terni
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$17.61€15.18
-54.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$68.5€59.1
-29.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$14.16€12.21
-33.47%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$1.72€1.49
70.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$2.75€2.37
-32.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$1.05€0.90
39.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
$4.79€4.13
-32.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$5.78€4.98
-1.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Terni
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$1.25€1.08
15.20%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$1.75€1.51
37.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$2.28€1.97
-25.44%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$3.47€3.00
-16.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$13.73€11.83
-26.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$9.27€7.99
7.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$14.00€12.07
1.43%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$1.19€1.03
234.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$1.14€0.99
38.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$1.14€0.98
88.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
$2.33€2.01
-1.29%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$0.79€0.68
153.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$1.47€1.26
2.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$0.79€0.68
51.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$0.37€0.32
245.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$6.79€5.85
-43.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$5.75€4.95
143.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
$1.19€1.02
43.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
$1.56€1.34
75.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Terni
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
$1.66€1.43
-24.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
$35.49€30.60
119.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$5.42€4.67
-75.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$1.55€1.34
40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$25.09€21.63
-66.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$2.10€1.81
-35.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$35.1K€30.3K
-21.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$36.3K€31.3K
0.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Terni
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$158€136
6.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$8.39€7.23
61.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$31.81€27.42
-10.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Terni
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
$58.5€50.4
-21.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
$11.43€9.85
50.66%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$10.54€9.08
-36.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Terni
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$343€295
134.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$12.6K€10.8K
-26.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Terni
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$85.7€73.9
1.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$31.43€27.09
88.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$96.8€83.5
43.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$80.2€69.1
27.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Terni
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$343€296
212.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$371€320
76.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$661€570
191.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$538€464
94.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
$1,389€1,197
196.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
$823€710
106.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Terni
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$1,558€1,343
-57.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
3.04
259.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Terni: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $343 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 138% higher in Terni, 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 $69.0 in Terni. Groceries tell a different story – $300 in Medellin vs $245 in Terni – so Terni wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 – Medellin is pricier by about 25%, 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 $2,462 per month in Medellin and $1,974 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 Terni, 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 Terni?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $69.0 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 and in Terni?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,641 in Medellin and $1,316 in Terni. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Terni?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Terni, where all-in costs run around $1,316, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Terni it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Terni more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Terni – 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 Terni. 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.