😐A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $751 in Tsumeb, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,238 in Tsumeb, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,725 in Tsumeb, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 34% more than Tsumeb, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Tsumeb are more affordable than the global median – Medellin25% lower, Tsumeb44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Tsumeb
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.6K
$16.84NAD 278
-64.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 103.8K
$37.47NAD 620
-12.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.4K
$9.02NAD 149
-17.63%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,207
$2.19NAD 36.17
-24.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,468
$2.24NAD 37.06
-50.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,458
$2.12NAD 35.11
-63.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,412
$2.41NAD 39.88
-28.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.0K
$1.20NAD 19.86
165.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Tsumeb
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,474
$1.37NAD 22.73
-19.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,962
$0.76NAD 12.51
65.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,349
$1.55NAD 25.63
-10.97%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,858
$2.60NAD 42.95
-16.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.1K
$13.47NAD 223
-66.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.2K
$3.30NAD 54.5
75.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.2K
$9.79NAD 162
-8.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,308
$2.21NAD 36.62
4.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,352
$2.73NAD 45.24
-61.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,774
$2.64NAD 43.60
-42.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,270
$2.06NAD 34.13
-33.98%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,552
$2.13NAD 35.25
-46.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,689
$1.63NAD 26.98
-28.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,838
$1.43NAD 23.61
-37.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,823
$0.94NAD 15.54
-4.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,034
$3.04NAD 50.3
-26.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.2K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,743
$0.86NAD 14.16
38.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,815
$1.21NAD 19.96
104.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Tsumeb
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,687
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 131.0K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,459
$0.82NAD 13.64
73.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,141
$0.83NAD 13.74
134.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.8K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,118
$1.20NAD 19.84
-17.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
$27.9KNAD 461.5K
-36.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
$21.2KNAD 349.9K
26.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Tsumeb
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 261.4K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.5K
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 74.1K
$28.13NAD 465
-16.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Tsumeb
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 79.5K
$22.02NAD 364
14.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.4K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Tsumeb
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 994.2K
$39.53NAD 654
698.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.8M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Tsumeb
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 188.9K
$40.97NAD 678
46.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 100.2K
$26.56NAD 439
19.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 320.1K
$42.78NAD 708
137.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 338.3K
$48.91NAD 809
119.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Tsumeb
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$260NAD 4,293
83.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$209NAD 3,459
78.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$458NAD 7,570
85.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$357NAD 5,909
101.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Tsumeb
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
9
49.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Tsumeb: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $260 in Tsumeb. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $37.00 in Tsumeb. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $206 – 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 Tsumeb: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tsumeb cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 34%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,126 in Tsumeb. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tsumeb, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Tsumeb?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $37.00 in Tsumeb. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Tsumeb?
Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Tsumeb?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tsumeb, where all-in costs run around $751, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Tsumeb it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Tsumeb more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tsumeb – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tsumeb. 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.