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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $847 in Tripoli, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,334 in Tripoli, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,821 in Tripoli, rent included.

Medellin costs about 18% more than Tripoli, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Tripoli are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Tripoli 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$4.62 LBP 413.4K

27.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$37.54 LBP 3.4M

-12.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$8.17 LBP 730.8K

-9.06%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.52 LBP 225.9K

-34.52%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$1.52 LBP 135.8K

-27.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.86 LBP 77.1K

-9.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$3.52 LBP 314.7K

-51.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$4.89 LBP 437.2K

-34.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.27 LBP 113.6K

-13.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.31 LBP 28.1K

306.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$0.91 LBP 81.4K

51.65%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.63 LBP 145.8K

33.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$5.76 LBP 515.8K

-22.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$5.98 LBP 535.5K

-3.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$9.92 LBP 887.9K

-9.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$1.01 LBP 90.6K

129.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$0.53 LBP 47.2K

100.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$0.49 LBP 43.5K

210.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$0.90 LBP 80.2K

51.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.55 LBP 49.5K

105.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.80 LBP 71.7K

46.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.31 LBP 28.0K

190.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.41 LBP 36.7K

119.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$2.49 LBP 222.7K

-10.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$10.13 LBP 907.0K

19.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.24 LBP 110.8K

-4.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.14 LBP 191.4K

15.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.98 LBP 87.6K

-13.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$4.97 LBP 445.1K

-71.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$1.22 LBP 109.1K

59.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$19.68 LBP 1.8M

-59.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.96 LBP 86.1K

3.13%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$22.7K LBP 2.0B

-22.29%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$20.4K LBP 1.8B

31.37%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$213 LBP 19.1M

-61.08%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$21.92 LBP 2.0M

-55.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$37.61 LBP 3.4M

-37.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$19.80 LBP 1.8M

27.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$12.43 LBP 1.1M

53.66%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$6.39 LBP 571.8K

-38.18%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$136 LBP 12.1M

132.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$2,035 LBP 182.1M

193.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$34.47 LBP 3.1M

74.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$45.11 LBP 4.0M

-29.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$84.0 LBP 7.5M

21.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$75.3 LBP 6.7M

42.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$246 LBP 22.0M

93.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$150 LBP 13.5M

148.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$752 LBP 67.3M

12.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$378 LBP 33.8M

90.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$1,168 LBP 104.5M

179.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$875 LBP 78.3M

64.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$447 LBP 40.0M

39.61%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Tripoli: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $246 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 40% 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 $38.00 in Tripoli. Groceries tell a different story – $193 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 18%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,271 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 $38.00 in Tripoli. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% 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 $847, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.