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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $873 in Tripoli, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,352 in Tripoli, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,831 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 23% lower, Tripoli 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$4.52 LBP 405.0K

30.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$37.41 LBP 3.3M

-12.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$7.81 LBP 699.0K

-7.81%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$2.45 LBP 219.7K

-30.61%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$1.54 LBP 137.4K

-28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.88 LBP 78.4K

-18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$3.49 LBP 312.2K

-52.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$5.07 LBP 453.9K

-38.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$1.29 LBP 115.2K

-17.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$0.32 LBP 28.6K

290.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$0.99 LBP 88.6K

40.40%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$1.58 LBP 141.5K

43.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$5.56 LBP 497.8K

-22.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$5.82 LBP 521.2K

0.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$9.94 LBP 889.7K

-11.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$1.02 LBP 91.0K

119.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$0.53 LBP 47.0K

103.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$0.45 LBP 40.2K

240.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$0.98 LBP 87.3K

39.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$0.55 LBP 49.6K

105.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$0.75 LBP 66.7K

49.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$0.29 LBP 25.8K

193.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.42 LBP 37.5K

116.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$2.46 LBP 220.0K

-5.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$7.04 LBP 630.0K

58.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$1.22 LBP 109.5K

-2.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$2.12 LBP 190.0K

11.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$0.98 LBP 87.6K

-19.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$4.87 LBP 435.9K

-70.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$1.22 LBP 109.1K

56.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$20.06 LBP 1.8M

-60.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$0.88 LBP 78.6K

6.82%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$22.8K LBP 2.0B

-21.27%

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$20.3K LBP 1.8B

31.83%

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$213 LBP 19.1M

-60.56%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$21.87 LBP 2.0M

-56.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$37.71 LBP 3.4M

-35.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$19.35 LBP 1.7M

33.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

$12.30 LBP 1.1M

54.80%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$6.37 LBP 570.2K

-38.46%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$135 LBP 12.1M

126.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$1,965 LBP 175.9M

201.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$34.59 LBP 3.1M

67.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$45.34 LBP 4.1M

-29.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$84.7 LBP 7.6M

17.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$75.7 LBP 6.8M

41.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$252 LBP 22.6M

92.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$149 LBP 13.4M

146.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$776 LBP 69.5M

6.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$384 LBP 34.3M

86.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

$1,111 LBP 99.4M

163.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

$836 LBP 74.8M

68.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$412 LBP 36.9M

32.34%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Tripoli: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $252 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 32% 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 $151 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,310 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 26% 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 $873, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.