Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Toliara Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Toliara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $184 in Toliara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $273 in Toliara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $363 in Toliara, rent included.

Medellin costs about 814% more than Toliara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Toliara is 87% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.3K

$1.90 MGA 8,282

322.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 151.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 31.2K

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,873

$0.84 MGA 3,658

272.62%

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

$1.91 COP 6,019

$0.66 MGA 2,873

189.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,763

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,853

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 18.1K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,558

$1.48 MGA 6,452

-2.70%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,843

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,595

$0.39 MGA 1,702

353.85%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,336

$2.19 MGA 9,536

35.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.8K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.9K

$4.89 MGA 21.4K

106.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 45.1K

$5.18 MGA 22.6K

176.06%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 13.0K

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,073

$0.71 MGA 3,105

126.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,083

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,104

$1.81 MGA 7,880

24.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,444

$0.53 MGA 2,328

284.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,842

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,691

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,121

$0.72 MGA 3,135

81.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.3K

$1.82 MGA 7,955

114.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 44.2K

$5.94 MGA 25.9K

135.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,498

$0.72 MGA 3,133

141.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 9,053

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,834

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 253.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,129

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,899

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,306

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

$27.8K COP 87.8M

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

$35.8K COP 112.8M

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

$177 COP 559.3K

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

$13.88 COP 43.8K

$17.16 MGA 74.9K

-19.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 93.8K

$34.95 MGA 152.5K

-14.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 141.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 54.0K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 21.0K

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

$813 COP 2.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 29.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 282.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 186.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 435.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 322.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 6.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

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: September 14, 2026

Last update for Toliara: September 13, 2026

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 Toliara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 814%, 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $276 in Toliara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $184 in Toliara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 193% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Toliara, where all-in costs run around $184, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Toliara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Toliara – 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 Toliara. 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.