😐A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $766 in Tsumeb, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,264 in Tsumeb, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,763 in Tsumeb, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 35% more than Tsumeb, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Tsumeb are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Tsumeb43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Tsumeb
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.5K
$16.52NAD 273
-64.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 119.1K
$36.90NAD 611
-11.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.2K
$8.85NAD 147
-18.64%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,186
$2.18NAD 36.00
-22.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,996
$2.16NAD 35.75
-49.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,625
$2.09NAD 34.63
-65.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,067
$2.45NAD 40.49
-31.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.3K
$1.20NAD 19.81
158.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Tsumeb
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,837
$1.33NAD 22.00
-20.30%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,531
$0.75NAD 12.39
66.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,060
$1.54NAD 25.53
-9.74%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,229
$2.70NAD 44.65
-16.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.8K
$13.49NAD 223
-67.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.2K
$3.37NAD 55.8
73.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 32.1K
$9.95NAD 165
-11.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,159
$2.26NAD 37.48
-0.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,911
$2.73NAD 45.21
-60.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,563
$2.49NAD 41.21
-38.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,987
$2.03NAD 33.65
-32.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,109
$2.19NAD 36.32
-48.40%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,067
$1.58NAD 26.20
-29.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,080
$1.49NAD 24.59
-42.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,305
$0.98NAD 16.29
-7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,477
$3.06NAD 50.7
-23.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.5K
$3.84NAD 63.6
189.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,342
$0.92NAD 15.18
29.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,617
$1.24NAD 20.60
91.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Tsumeb
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,859
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 149.6K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,223
$0.85NAD 14.10
69.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,952
$0.79NAD 13.03
141.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 29.2K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,410
$1.20NAD 19.87
-21.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
$28.4KNAD 470.0K
-36.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
$21.1KNAD 349.0K
27.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Tsumeb
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 305.4K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.9K
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.9K
$28.20NAD 467
-14.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Tsumeb
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 94.1K
$21.89NAD 362
18.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 69.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.2K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Tsumeb
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$39.42NAD 652
677.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.5M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Tsumeb
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 210.6K
$41.12NAD 681
40.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 115.7K
$26.89NAD 445
18.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 363.3K
$43.31NAD 717
130.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 389.7K
$48.23NAD 798
122.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Tsumeb
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$268NAD 4,440
81.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$207NAD 3,431
77.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$453NAD 7,495
82.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$369NAD 6,105
94.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Tsumeb
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Tsumeb: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $268 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: $190 vs $215 – 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 35%, 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,149 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 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 Tsumeb?
Interestingly, groceries are about 13% 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 Medellin or Tsumeb?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tsumeb, where all-in costs run around $766, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.
Medellin vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado