πA single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $937 in Tuapse, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,496 in Tuapse, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $2,054 in Tuapse, rent included.
πMedellin costs about 10% more than Tuapse, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth Medellin and Tuapse are more affordable than the global median β Medellin23% lower, Tuapse30% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Tuapse
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COPΒ 21.4K
$11.49β½863
-48.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COPΒ 118.2K
$49.79β½3,740
-34.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COPΒ 26.0K
$5.04β½379
42.86%
Cappuccino
$1.70COPΒ 6,140
$2.91β½218
-41.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,966
$1.47β½110
-25.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COPΒ 2,605
$0.84β½63.4
-14.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COPΒ 6,022
$1.29β½96.6
29.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COPΒ 11.2K
$2.16β½162
43.52%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Tuapse
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COPΒ 3,809
$0.98β½73.6
8.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COPΒ 4,497
$0.68β½51.1
83.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COPΒ 5,022
$1.44β½108
-3.47%
Eggs
$2.26COPΒ 8,168
$1.70β½128
32.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COPΒ 15.6K
$8.08β½607
-46.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COPΒ 21.1K
$4.82β½362
21.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COPΒ 31.9K
$7.44β½559
18.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COPΒ 8,099
$1.22β½91.9
83.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COPΒ 3,882
$1.68β½127
-35.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COPΒ 5,522
$1.51β½114
1.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPΒ 4,950
$2.31β½174
-40.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COPΒ 4,078
$0.79β½59.3
43.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COPΒ 4,036
$0.52β½39.13
115.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COPΒ 3,057
$1.37β½103
-37.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COPΒ 3,281
$0.62β½46.81
46.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COPΒ 8,414
$2.50β½188
-6.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COPΒ 40.2K
$6.63β½498
67.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COPΒ 4,309
$0.88β½65.8
35.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COPΒ 8,553
$2.16β½163
9.72%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Tuapse
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,838
$0.49β½36.65
61.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COPΒ 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COPΒ 5,184
$1.91β½144
-24.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COPΒ 6,901
$0.37β½27.54
416.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COPΒ 28.9K
$6.57β½493
22.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COPΒ 3,385
$0.78β½58.9
20.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOPΒ 64.7M
$49.5Kβ½3.7M
-63.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOPΒ 96.7M
$38.4Kβ½2.9M
-30.14%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Tuapse
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COPΒ 303.1K
$98.9β½7,428
-15.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COPΒ 34.7K
$6.90β½518
39.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COPΒ 87.2K
$8.43β½633
186.60%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Tuapse
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COPΒ 93.4K
$35.44β½2,662
-26.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COPΒ 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COPΒ 14.1K
$7.76β½583
-49.48%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Tuapse
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COPΒ 1.1M
$283β½21.3K
8.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COPΒ 21.4M
$7,675β½576.5K
-22.88%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Tuapse
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COPΒ 209.1K
$48.07β½3,610
20.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COPΒ 114.9K
$61.4β½4,614
-48.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COPΒ 360.6K
$114β½8,580
-12.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COPΒ 386.8K
$102β½7,645
5.27%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Tuapse
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COPΒ 1.8M
$437β½32.8K
11.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COPΒ 1.3M
$300β½22.6K
22.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COPΒ 3.0M
$764β½57.4K
8.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COPΒ 2.6M
$509β½38.2K
40.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COPΒ 10.6M
$1,808β½135.8K
61.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COPΒ 5.1M
$1,668β½125.3K
-15.64%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Tuapse
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COPΒ 2.0M
-
-
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Tuapse: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $437 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 $172 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 10%, 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 $1,406 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 10% 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 $937, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.