Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tripoli Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tripoli

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $849 in Tripoli, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,342 in Tripoli, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,835 in Tripoli, rent included.

Medellin costs about 20% more than Tripoli, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Tripoli are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Tripoli 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$4.63 LBP 414.2K

28.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$37.44 LBP 3.4M

-10.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$8.08 LBP 723.6K

-10.52%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.56 LBP 229.0K

-36.33%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$1.47 LBP 131.3K

-25.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.93 LBP 83.6K

-21.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$3.54 LBP 317.1K

-50.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$4.92 LBP 440.1K

-34.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.34 LBP 119.6K

-21.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.34 LBP 30.8K

279.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$0.92 LBP 82.5K

43.48%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.62 LBP 145.2K

40.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$5.61 LBP 502.4K

-22.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$5.91 LBP 528.5K

-0.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$9.86 LBP 882.9K

-12.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$0.98 LBP 87.6K

129.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$0.57 LBP 50.8K

87.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$0.48 LBP 43.2K

216.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$0.97 LBP 87.1K

46.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.54 LBP 48.7K

116.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.74 LBP 66.0K

58.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.31 LBP 28.0K

187.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.42 LBP 37.3K

114.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$2.46 LBP 220.4K

-8.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$9.87 LBP 883.6K

11.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.28 LBP 114.7K

-10.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.20 LBP 196.9K

8.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$1.02 LBP 91.6K

-17.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$5.05 LBP 452.2K

-72.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$1.24 LBP 111.0K

53.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$19.91 LBP 1.8M

-61.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.90 LBP 80.6K

12.22%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$22.3K LBP 2.0B

-21.06%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$19.7K LBP 1.8B

34.48%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$213 LBP 19.1M

-60.75%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$21.71 LBP 1.9M

-56.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$37.82 LBP 3.4M

-36.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$19.82 LBP 1.8M

27.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$12.38 LBP 1.1M

54.60%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$6.47 LBP 578.8K

-36.63%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$138 LBP 12.3M

126.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$1,987 LBP 177.9M

201.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$34.49 LBP 3.1M

68.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$45.27 LBP 4.1M

-28.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$84.4 LBP 7.6M

18.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$76.4 LBP 6.8M

42.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$253 LBP 22.7M

90.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$148 LBP 13.2M

156.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$762 LBP 68.2M

9.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$383 LBP 34.2M

89.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$1,180 LBP 105.6M

140.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$867 LBP 77.6M

41.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$446 LBP 39.9M

21.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

34.30%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Tripoli: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $253 in Tripoli. 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 21% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $37.00 in Tripoli. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $158 in Tripoli – so Tripoli wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Tripoli: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,273 in Tripoli. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tripoli, 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 $37.00 in Tripoli. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tripoli, where all-in costs run around $849, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Tripoli it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tripoli – 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 Tripoli. 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.