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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,115 in Tobago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,875 in Tobago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $2,634 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 24% lower, Tobago 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$8.99 TTD 60.2

-33.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$65.6 TTD 439

-49.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$7.23 TTD 48.47

-1.94%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$3.63 TTD 24.32

-52.89%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$0.92 TTD 6.13

19.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$0.81 TTD 5.42

-3.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$3.67 TTD 24.58

-54.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$2.88 TTD 19.30

6.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$2.26 TTD 15.15

-51.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$2.30 TTD 15.42

-45.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$2.90 TTD 19.46

-52.41%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$4.48 TTD 30.01

-51.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$7.28 TTD 48.75

-39.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$7.35 TTD 49.25

-23.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$7.46 TTD 49.98

19.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$6.97 TTD 46.69

-66.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$2.36 TTD 15.83

-55.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$2.92 TTD 19.58

-48.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$2.90 TTD 19.41

-52.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$1.21 TTD 8.11

-4.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$1.20 TTD 8.04

-3.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$1.59 TTD 10.67

-44.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$1.31 TTD 8.76

-35.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$4.83 TTD 32.35

-52.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$21.73 TTD 146

-51.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$3.42 TTD 22.91

-64.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$3.37 TTD 22.59

-26.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$0.77 TTD 5.15

11.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$0.76 TTD 5.06

93.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$0.77 TTD 5.18

154.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$15.24 TTD 102

-49.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.04 TTD 6.94

-8.65%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$26.7K TTD 178.8K

-32.06%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$40.4K TTD 271.0K

-34.52%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$60.2 TTD 404

-59.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$54.6 TTD 366

-52.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$15.05 TTD 101

26.25%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$7.43 TTD 49.79

-47.11%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$96.9 TTD 649

219.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$51.7 TTD 346

13.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$46.21 TTD 310

-29.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$154 TTD 1,029

-33.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$69.9 TTD 469

55.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$413 TTD 2,767

15.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$341 TTD 2,283

11.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$805 TTD 5,394

4.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$660 TTD 4,420

9.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$733 TTD 4,908

-30.14%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Tobago: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $413 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 43% 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: $188 vs $327 – 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,673 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 73% 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 $1,013, than in Tobago at $1,115. 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.