Cost of Living Comparison Between Nashville, TN and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Nashville, TN and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,056 per month in Nashville, TN vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,573 per month in Nashville, TN vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,091 per month in Nashville, TN vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Nashville, TN costs about 201% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Nashville, TN sits 127% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nashville, TN
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.16 $18.16
$5.95 COP 20.8K
205.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.3 $80.3
$33.33 COP 116.3K
140.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.04 $10.04
$7.23 COP 25.2K
38.87%
Cappuccino
$5.90 $5.90
$1.63 COP 5,687
261.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 $2.96
$1.09 COP 3,821
171.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.73 COP 2,548
242.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.56 $6.56
$1.74 COP 6,065
277.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.06 $8.06
$3.23 COP 11.3K
149.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nashville, TN
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.05 COP 3,662
5.71%
White Bread (500g)
$4.07 $4.07
$1.29 COP 4,515
215.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.74 $4.74
$1.32 COP 4,617
259.09%
Eggs
$3.75 $3.75
$2.27 COP 7,927
65.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.77 $11.77
$4.35 COP 15.2K
170.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$5.88 COP 20.5K
167.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.47 $16.47
$8.61 COP 30.0K
91.29%
Apples (1kg)
$4.30 $4.30
$2.25 COP 7,844
91.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 $1.41
$1.07 COP 3,733
31.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.76 $5.76
$1.52 COP 5,322
278.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.22 $5.22
$1.42 COP 4,964
267.61%
Potato (1kg)
$3.52 $3.52
$1.17 COP 4,084
200.85%
Onion (1kg)
$4.00 $4.00
$1.17 COP 4,077
241.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.89 COP 3,096
130.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.82 $2.82
$0.90 COP 3,146
213.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.09 $9.09
$2.25 COP 7,837
304.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.54 $15.54
$11.04 COP 38.5K
40.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 $2.00
$1.14 COP 3,977
75.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 $4.53
$2.38 COP 8,301
90.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Nashville, TN
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$0.84 COP 2,916
142.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.3 $66.3
$41.95 COP 146.4K
57.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.98 $4.98
$1.41 COP 4,912
253.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.90 COP 6,634
-19.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.91 $20.91
$7.75 COP 27.0K
169.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.01 COP 3,509
-15.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3K $32.3K
$17.6K COP 61.4M
83.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.5K COP 92.5M
-0.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nashville, TN
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$202 $202
$83.7 COP 292.1K
141.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.3 $69.3
$9.45 COP 33.0K
633.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.4 $71.4
$24.11 COP 84.1K
196.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nashville, TN
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.42 $41.42
$25.31 COP 88.3K
63.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.35 $18.35
$19.14 COP 66.8K
-4.13%
Cinema Ticket
$14.82 $14.82
$4.10 COP 14.3K
261.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nashville, TN
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,255 $1,255
$312 COP 1.1M
302.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.0K $30.0K
$5,993 COP 20.9M
400.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nashville, TN
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.8 $60.8
$58.0 COP 202.6K
4.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.77 $48.77
$32.56 COP 113.6K
49.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 $94.3
$99.6 COP 347.7K
-5.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136 $136
$109 COP 378.8K
25.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nashville, TN
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,886 $1,886
$482 COP 1.7M
291.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,632 $1,632
$379 COP 1.3M
329.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,025 $4,025
$837 COP 2.9M
380.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,009 $3,009
$723 COP 2.5M
316.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,810 $7,810
$2,840 COP 9.9M
175.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,682 $2,682
$1,223 COP 4.3M
119.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nashville, TN
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,587 $4,587
$541 COP 1.9M
748.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.52
13.43
-51.45%

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

Last update for Nashville, TN: June 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,886 in Nashville, TN versus $482 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 748% higher in Nashville, TN, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Nashville, TN versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $190 – 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
Nashville, TN vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Nashville, TN?
Yes – Nashville, TN is pricier by about 201%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $4,584 per month in Nashville, TN and $1,525 in Medellin. 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 Medellin, 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 Nashville, TN or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Nashville, TN and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Nashville, TN vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,056 in Nashville, TN and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Nashville, TN or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Nashville, TN at $3,056. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nashville, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nashville, TN or Medellin more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nashville, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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