Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tobago Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tobago

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,133 in Tobago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,881 in Tobago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $2,630 in Tobago, rent included.

Medellin is about 9% cheaper than Tobago, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Tobago are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Tobago 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$8.95 TTD 60.2

-31.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$66.0 TTD 444

-50.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$7.19 TTD 48.38

2.09%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$3.68 TTD 24.73

-53.26%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.95 TTD 6.41

10.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.81 TTD 5.48

-4.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$3.72 TTD 24.99

-54.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$2.99 TTD 20.08

6.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$2.36 TTD 15.86

-55.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$2.31 TTD 15.52

-43.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$2.92 TTD 19.61

-52.05%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$4.54 TTD 30.54

-52.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$7.23 TTD 48.61

-39.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$7.44 TTD 50.0

-20.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$7.21 TTD 48.48

19.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$7.02 TTD 47.19

-67.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$2.47 TTD 16.63

-55.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$2.94 TTD 19.77

-47.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$3.00 TTD 20.21

-55.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$1.21 TTD 8.12

-6.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$1.21 TTD 8.12

-6.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$1.57 TTD 10.54

-45.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$1.30 TTD 8.74

-30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$4.67 TTD 31.39

-49.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$21.60 TTD 145

-42.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$3.38 TTD 22.72

-64.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$3.43 TTD 23.06

-27.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$0.78 TTD 5.22

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$0.72 TTD 4.81

97.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$0.72 TTD 4.86

166.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$15.48 TTD 104

-50.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.02 TTD 6.86

-2.94%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$26.7K TTD 179.4K

-32.42%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$39.7K TTD 267.1K

-32.94%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$58.3 TTD 392

-58.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$54.4 TTD 366

-53.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$14.52 TTD 97.7

31.89%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$7.41 TTD 49.83

-46.29%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$95.7 TTD 644

218.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$50.7 TTD 341

14.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$47.01 TTD 316

-31.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$153 TTD 1,027

-34.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$67.8 TTD 456

58.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$403 TTD 2,708

18.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$350 TTD 2,352

7.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$800 TTD 5,383

5.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$677 TTD 4,555

7.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$733 TTD 4,933

-15.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

91.86%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Tobago: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $403 in Tobago. 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 19% higher in Tobago, 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 $66.0 in Tobago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $329 – 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 Tobago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tobago is pricier by about 10%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,699 in Tobago. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $66.0 in Tobago. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 70% more in Tobago, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Tobago at $1,133. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tobago it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tobago makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.