πA single person spends $1,028 per month in Medellin vs $959 in Tuapse, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $1,522 in Tuapse, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,144 per month in Medellin vs $2,086 in Tuapse, rent included.
πMedellin costs about 7% more than Tuapse, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth Medellin and Tuapse are more affordable than the global median β Medellin23% lower, Tuapse28% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Tuapse
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.00COPΒ 20.6K
$11.24β½815
-46.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.84COPΒ 112.5K
$50.5β½3,656
-34.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.42COPΒ 25.4K
$4.99β½361
48.70%
Cappuccino
$1.65COPΒ 5,659
$2.98β½216
-44.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07COPΒ 3,663
$1.43β½104
-25.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76COPΒ 2,607
$0.90β½64.9
-15.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COPΒ 5,908
$1.23β½89.3
39.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20COPΒ 11.0K
$2.18β½158
46.79%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Tuapse
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,597
$0.98β½70.7
7.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COPΒ 4,479
$0.73β½52.7
79.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34COPΒ 4,591
$1.36β½98.5
-1.47%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,521
$1.72β½124
27.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.41COPΒ 15.1K
$8.21β½595
-46.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.69COPΒ 19.5K
$4.97β½360
14.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.52COPΒ 29.2K
$7.43β½538
14.67%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,023
$1.22β½88.1
91.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COPΒ 3,804
$1.69β½122
-34.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,210
$1.45β½105
4.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPΒ 4,680
$2.32β½168
-40.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 3,950
$0.74β½53.6
55.41%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18COPΒ 4,043
$0.56β½40.61
110.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84COPΒ 2,885
$1.34β½97.2
-37.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86COPΒ 2,931
$0.64β½46.36
34.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26COPΒ 7,753
$2.47β½179
-8.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.60COPΒ 39.8K
$7.44β½539
55.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,109
$0.87β½62.7
37.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COPΒ 8,484
$2.10β½152
18.10%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Tuapse
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,721
$0.49β½35.66
61.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.83COPΒ 139.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,023
$1.86β½135
-20.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COPΒ 6,568
$0.34β½24.54
464.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.77COPΒ 26.6K
$6.46β½468
20.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,464
$0.75β½54.2
34.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOPΒ 60.5M
$50.2Kβ½3.6M
-64.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 90.7M
$38.5Kβ½2.8M
-31.26%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Tuapse
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.1COPΒ 277.9K
$97.3β½7,053
-16.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.43COPΒ 32.3K
$6.97β½505
35.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.86COPΒ 81.8K
$8.41β½609
183.71%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Tuapse
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.99COPΒ 89.1K
$35.27β½2,556
-26.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71COPΒ 64.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.09COPΒ 14.0K
$7.84β½568
-47.83%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Tuapse
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$315COPΒ 1.1M
$284β½20.6K
10.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,022COPΒ 20.6M
$7,519β½544.8K
-19.91%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Tuapse
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7COPΒ 204.6K
$47.03β½3,408
26.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.97COPΒ 109.6K
$60.3β½4,368
-46.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COPΒ 346.9K
$115β½8,334
-12.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105COPΒ 360.3K
$105β½7,587
0.38%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Tuapse
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$485COPΒ 1.7M
$446β½32.3K
8.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$365COPΒ 1.3M
$305β½22.1K
19.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$827COPΒ 2.8M
$767β½55.6K
7.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COPΒ 2.5M
$515β½37.3K
41.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,992COPΒ 10.3M
$2,149β½155.7K
39.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,314COPΒ 4.5M
$1,582β½114.6K
-16.91%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Tuapse
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$551COPΒ 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
14
-4.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026
Last update for Tuapse: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Medellin versus $446 in Tuapse. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $50.0 in Tuapse. Groceries tell a different story β $190 in Medellin vs $174 in Tuapse β so Tuapse 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 Tuapse: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tuapse cheaper than Medellin?
Yes β Medellin is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,542 per month in Medellin and $1,438 in Tuapse. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tuapse, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and Tuapse?
Groceries cost about 9% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Medellin or Tuapse?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tuapse, where all-in costs run around $959, than in Medellin at $1,028. In Tuapse it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Tuapse more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tuapse β 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 Tuapse. 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.