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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,589 per month in Medellin vs $462 in Toamasina, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,364 per month in Medellin vs $753 in Toamasina, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,139 per month in Medellin vs $1,045 in Toamasina, rent included.

Medellin costs about 244% more than Toamasina, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Toamasina is 66% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.01 COP 25.6K

$2.20 MGA 9,776

264.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.55 COP 149.1K

$15.66 MGA 69.6K

197.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 COP 30.2K

$4.69 MGA 20.8K

101.07%

Cappuccino

$2.91 COP 9,326

$1.17 MGA 5,180

148.72%

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

$1.75 COP 5,614

$0.75 MGA 3,345

133.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 COP 4,241

$0.59 MGA 2,608

123.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.13 COP 10.0K

$0.93 MGA 4,156

236.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.55 COP 17.8K

$1.28 MGA 5,703

333.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 COP 4,519

$1.04 MGA 4,629

35.58%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 COP 7,818

$0.69 MGA 3,075

253.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 COP 5,218

$0.95 MGA 4,244

71.58%

Eggs

$2.82 COP 9,038

$1.88 MGA 8,368

50.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 COP 31.1K

$12.08 MGA 53.7K

-19.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.32 COP 29.8K

$6.64 MGA 29.5K

40.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.46 COP 43.1K

$5.14 MGA 22.9K

161.87%

Apples (1kg)

$4.00 COP 12.8K

$1.64 MGA 7,284

143.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 COP 4,744

$1.39 MGA 6,179

6.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 COP 6,804

$1.57 MGA 6,987

35.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,216

$0.65 MGA 2,906

246.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 COP 6,124

$0.60 MGA 2,674

218.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.62 COP 5,188

$0.56 MGA 2,492

189.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 COP 3,677

$0.32 MGA 1,438

259.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 COP 4,043

$0.50 MGA 2,230

152.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.82 COP 12.2K

$1.79 MGA 7,942

113.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.11 COP 42.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 5,110

$0.93 MGA 4,119

72.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 COP 7,226

$1.13 MGA 5,023

100.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,751

$0.36 MGA 1,584

225.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.0 COP 240.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 COP 4,077

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 COP 6,566

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.20 COP 26.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 COP 4,067

$1.19 MGA 5,310

6.72%

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

$26.8K COP 85.8M

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

$34.4K COP 110.2M

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

$162 COP 519.6K

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

$13.12 COP 42.0K

$32.37 MGA 143.9K

-59.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.09 COP 90.0K

$68.9 MGA 306.3K

-59.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.33 COP 142.0K

$22.38 MGA 99.5K

98.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 COP 52.3K

Cinema Ticket

$6.09 COP 19.5K

$7.04 MGA 31.3K

-13.49%

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

$764 COP 2.4M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,904 COP 28.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.0 COP 272.2K

$9.17 MGA 40.8K

826.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.5 COP 184.1K

$6.92 MGA 30.8K

730.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 COP 422.1K

$56.4 MGA 250.6K

133.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.8 COP 306.7K

$38.00 MGA 168.9K

151.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,028 COP 3.3M

$137 MGA 607.2K

652.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 COP 1.9M

$57.0 MGA 253.6K

959.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,802 COP 5.8M

$448 MGA 2.0M

302.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$993 COP 3.2M

$135 MGA 600.8K

634.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,921 COP 12.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,639 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$626 COP 2.0M

$136 MGA 602.6K

361.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026

Last update for Toamasina: October 4, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,028 in Medellin versus $137 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 362% 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 $47.00 in Medellin versus $16.00 in Toamasina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $157 – 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 244%, 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 $2,384 per month in Medellin and $693 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 84% 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 $47.00 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 $462, than in Medellin at $1,589. 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.