Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Treinta y Tres Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Treinta y Tres

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,023 in Treinta y Tres, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,580 in Treinta y Tres, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,137 in Treinta y Tres, rent included.

Medellin is about 2% cheaper than Treinta y Tres, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Treinta y Tres are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Treinta y Tres 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$13.58 UYU 546

-56.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$43.23 UYU 1,738

-23.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$8.81 UYU 354

-15.66%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.72 UYU 109

-39.34%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$2.26 UYU 91.0

-51.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$1.71 UYU 68.8

-54.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$2.18 UYU 87.7

-21.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$2.85 UYU 115

11.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.11 UYU 44.69

-0.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$2.26 UYU 90.9

-44.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.63 UYU 65.4

-15.34%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$3.72 UYU 149

-41.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$12.40 UYU 499

-63.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$8.48 UYU 341

-31.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$7.16 UYU 288

25.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$2.15 UYU 86.3

7.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.24 UYU 49.80

-14.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.44 UYU 58.0

5.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$2.38 UYU 95.5

-42.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.24 UYU 49.99

-8.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.85 UYU 74.5

-36.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$1.12 UYU 44.86

-19.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$1.66 UYU 66.9

-45.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$5.22 UYU 210

-57.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$5.63 UYU 226

115.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$2.26 UYU 91.0

-47.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$3.05 UYU 123

-18.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$1.19 UYU 47.74

19.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$2.43 UYU 97.7

-19.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$12.52 UYU 504

-36.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.83 UYU 73.6

-45.90%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$19.8K UYU 795.7K

-11.07%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$36.2K UYU 1.5M

-25.93%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$110 UYU 4,431

-24.69%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$12.33 UYU 496

-21.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$36.76 UYU 1,478

-36.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$29.82 UYU 1,199

-15.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$6.02 UYU 242

-34.39%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$171 UYU 6,860

85.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$2,641 UYU 106.2K

126.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$60.7 UYU 2,439

-1.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$19.53 UYU 785

62.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$94.4 UYU 3,794

7.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$111 UYU 4,461

-3.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$437 UYU 17.6K

8.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$244 UYU 9,810

53.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$607 UYU 24.4K

39.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$363 UYU 14.6K

97.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$806 UYU 32.4K

305.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$737 UYU 29.6K

-15.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

235.75%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Treinta y Tres: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $437 in Treinta y Tres. 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 18% higher in Treinta y Tres, 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 $43.00 in Treinta y Tres. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $253 – 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 Treinta y Tres: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Treinta y Tres is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,535 in Treinta y Tres. 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 $43.00 in Treinta y Tres. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% more in Treinta y Tres, 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 $1,003, than in Treinta y Tres at $1,023. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Treinta y Tres 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, Treinta y Tres makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.