Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Toamasina Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Toamasina

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $475 in Toamasina, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $756 in Toamasina, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $1,037 in Toamasina, rent included.

Medellin costs about 255% more than Toamasina, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Toamasina is 65% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.89 COP 24.2K

$2.24 MGA 9,622

252.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.53 COP 136.5K

$16.44 MGA 70.5K

170.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 COP 28.5K

$4.59 MGA 19.7K

102.40%

Cappuccino

$2.90 COP 8,874

$1.13 MGA 4,863

156.64%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 COP 5,541

$0.74 MGA 3,173

144.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 COP 4,741

$0.61 MGA 2,611

154.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 COP 9,962

$1.02 MGA 4,367

218.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 COP 18.0K

$1.31 MGA 5,641

348.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,230

$1.03 MGA 4,410

33.98%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 COP 7,517

$0.68 MGA 2,916

260.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,617

$0.93 MGA 3,988

62.37%

Eggs

$2.78 COP 8,516

$1.99 MGA 8,534

39.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 COP 27.7K

$12.46 MGA 53.4K

-27.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 COP 32.6K

$7.00 MGA 30.0K

52.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 COP 44.8K

$5.41 MGA 23.2K

170.43%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 COP 12.2K

$1.63 MGA 7,015

143.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,219

$1.36 MGA 5,837

1.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,056

$1.65 MGA 7,091

39.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 COP 6,185

$0.73 MGA 3,148

176.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 COP 6,390

$0.61 MGA 2,607

242.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 COP 4,996

$0.54 MGA 2,326

201.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 COP 3,313

$0.34 MGA 1,448

217.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 COP 3,843

$0.48 MGA 2,056

160.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 COP 12.4K

$1.85 MGA 7,952

117.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 COP 41.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 4,904

$0.87 MGA 3,721

83.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 COP 9,189

$1.19 MGA 5,106

152.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,611

$0.36 MGA 1,566

227.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 COP 4,920

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 COP 6,533

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 COP 26.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 COP 4,142

$1.16 MGA 4,960

16.38%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.3K COP 86.8M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.7K COP 109.4M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$151 COP 463.8K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.10 COP 40.1K

$33.18 MGA 142.4K

-60.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.30 COP 99.0K

$70.0 MGA 300.3K

-53.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.33 COP 141.9K

$23.44 MGA 100.6K

97.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

Cinema Ticket

$6.43 COP 19.7K

$7.03 MGA 30.2K

-8.53%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$835 COP 2.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,887 COP 27.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.3 COP 273.7K

$9.24 MGA 39.6K

866.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 COP 169.5K

$6.84 MGA 29.4K

708.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 COP 418.5K

$56.9 MGA 244.1K

140.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 335.1K

$39.25 MGA 168.4K

178.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 COP 2.9M

$141 MGA 605.8K

574.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 COP 2.0M

$57.0 MGA 244.5K

1072.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 COP 6.2M

$466 MGA 2.0M

333.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 COP 3.5M

$137 MGA 586.3K

740.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,696 COP 11.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 COP 4.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 COP 1.9M

$137 MGA 586.8K

357.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.43

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

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Toamasina: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $141 in Toamasina. 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 357% higher in Medellin, 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 $45.00 in Medellin versus $16.00 in Toamasina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $161 – making Toamasina 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 Toamasina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 255%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,530 per month in Medellin and $712 in Toamasina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Toamasina, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 85% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin and $16.00 in Toamasina. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Toamasina, where all-in costs run around $475, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Toamasina it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Toamasina – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Toamasina. 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.