🙂A single person spends $986 per month in Tamarin vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,676 per month in Tamarin vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,366 per month in Tamarin vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Tamarin is about 5% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Tamarin and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Tamarin26% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.48MUR 303
$5.92COP 21.5K
9.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.52MUR 1,988
$32.75COP 119.1K
29.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.44MUR 254
$7.20COP 26.2K
-24.44%
Cappuccino
$2.54MUR 119
$1.70COP 6,186
49.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MUR 43.15
$1.10COP 3,996
-16.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55MUR 25.77
$0.72COP 2,625
-23.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69MUR 79.2
$1.67COP 6,067
1.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80MUR 84.2
$3.10COP 11.3K
-41.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49MUR 69.7
$1.06COP 3,837
40.57%
White Bread(500g)
$0.37MUR 17.12
$1.25COP 4,531
-70.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26MUR 59.0
$1.39COP 5,060
-9.35%
Eggs
$2.14MUR 99.9
$2.26COP 8,229
-5.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.59MUR 262
$4.33COP 15.8K
29.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.04MUR 282
$5.84COP 21.2K
3.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.06MUR 470
$8.83COP 32.1K
13.93%
Apples(1kg)
$1.99MUR 93.1
$2.24COP 8,159
-11.16%
Banana(1kg)
$2.02MUR 94.6
$1.08COP 3,911
87.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43MUR 66.9
$1.53COP 5,563
-6.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.70MUR 126
$1.37COP 4,987
97.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01MUR 47.44
$1.13COP 4,109
-10.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00MUR 46.92
$1.12COP 4,067
-10.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80MUR 37.29
$0.85COP 3,080
-5.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74MUR 34.74
$0.91COP 3,305
-18.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.41MUR 300
$2.33COP 8,477
175.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.81MUR 412
$11.13COP 40.5K
-20.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74MUR 81.5
$1.19COP 4,342
46.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70MUR 79.4
$2.37COP 8,617
-28.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.12MUR 52.2
$0.79COP 2,859
41.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.13MUR 520
$41.13COP 149.6K
-72.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.32MUR 202
$1.44COP 5,223
200.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.62MUR 123
$1.91COP 6,952
37.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.73MUR 314
$8.02COP 29.2K
-16.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25MUR 58.6
$0.94COP 3,410
32.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9KMUR 1.3M
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
61.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4KMUR 1.3M
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
2.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$48.56MUR 2,270
$84.0COP 305.4K
-42.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.37MUR 765
$9.60COP 34.9K
70.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.26MUR 1,415
$24.16COP 87.9K
25.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.33MUR 2,306
$25.88COP 94.1K
90.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.95MUR 512
$19.04COP 69.3K
-42.49%
Cinema Ticket
$6.02MUR 281
$3.92COP 14.2K
53.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$150MUR 6,998
$306COP 1.1M
-51.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,109MUR 145.3K
$5,919COP 21.5M
-47.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1MUR 2,714
$57.9COP 210.6K
0.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.77MUR 2,233
$31.82COP 115.7K
50.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8MUR 4,058
$99.9COP 363.3K
-13.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.1MUR 2,714
$107COP 389.7K
-45.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$756MUR 35.3K
$487COP 1.8M
55.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$386MUR 18.0K
$368COP 1.3M
4.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,426MUR 66.7K
$826COP 3.0M
72.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$921MUR 43.1K
$716COP 2.6M
28.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,925COP 10.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$861MUR 40.3K
$546COP 2.0M
57.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6
13.43
-55.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tamarin: April 28, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $756 in Tamarin versus $487 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 58% higher in Tamarin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tamarin versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 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
Tamarin vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Tamarin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. 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 $1,480 per month in Tamarin and $1,550 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 Tamarin, 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 Tamarin or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tamarin 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 Tamarin vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $986 in Tamarin and $1,034 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Tamarin or Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tamarin, where all-in costs run around $986, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Tamarin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tamarin or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tamarin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tamarin or Medellin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tamarin. 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.