Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tumon Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tumon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,030 per month in Medellin vs $1,483 in Tumon, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $2,465 in Tumon, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $3,447 in Tumon, rent included.

Medellin is about 31% cheaper than Tumon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Tumon is 11% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.2K

$25.07 $25.07

-76.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.17 COP 118.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.25 COP 25.9K

$14.86 $14.86

-51.21%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,137

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

$1.09 COP 3,915

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,743

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 COP 6,254

$8.17 $8.17

-78.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 11.4K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,792

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,657

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,926

Eggs

$2.21 COP 7,908

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 COP 16.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 COP 20.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 32.1K

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 COP 8,182

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,791

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 COP 5,411

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,869

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,146

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,174

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 COP 2,960

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 COP 3,043

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 8,423

Wine (Bottle)

$11.09 COP 39.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 COP 4,133

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,853

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,827

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.85 COP 149.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,140

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,793

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.70 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 COP 3,680

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

$17.7K COP 63.3M

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

$27.0K COP 96.7M

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

$81.4 COP 291.4K

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

$9.42 COP 33.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.77 COP 85.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.86 COP 92.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.34 COP 69.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.05 COP 14.5K

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,067 COP 21.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 COP 210.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.82 COP 117.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 COP 359.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 COP 380.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 COP 1.8M

$2,006 $2,006

-75.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 COP 1.3M

$1,178 $1,178

-68.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$4,025 $4,025

-79.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$715 COP 2.6M

$2,886 $2,886

-75.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,952 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,394 COP 5.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$532 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026

Last update for Tumon: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Medellin versus $2,006 in Tumon. 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 in Medellin versus $0 in Tumon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $0 – making Tumon 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 Tumon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tumon is pricier by about 44%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,544 per month in Medellin and $2,225 in Tumon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,030, than in Tumon at $1,483. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tumon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tumon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.