🙂A single person spends $955 per month in Tamarin vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,638 per month in Tamarin vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,321 per month in Tamarin vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Tamarin is about 43% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Tamarin sits 30% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.74MUR 273
$8.02COP 25.3K
-28.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.06MUR 1,808
$47.87COP 151.0K
-20.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.15MUR 340
$9.89COP 31.2K
-27.70%
Cappuccino
$2.62MUR 125
$3.13COP 9,873
-16.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MUR 54.4
$1.91COP 6,019
-39.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66MUR 31.15
$1.51COP 4,763
-56.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.72MUR 129
$3.12COP 9,853
-12.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74MUR 82.8
$5.75COP 18.1K
-69.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49MUR 70.6
$1.44COP 4,558
3.47%
White Bread(500g)
$0.20MUR 9.50
$2.49COP 7,843
-91.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16MUR 55.2
$1.77COP 5,595
-34.46%
Eggs
$2.41MUR 114
$2.96COP 9,336
-18.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.88MUR 185
$10.07COP 31.8K
-61.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.20MUR 295
$10.12COP 31.9K
-38.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.24MUR 534
$14.30COP 45.1K
-21.40%
Apples(1kg)
$2.23MUR 106
$4.14COP 13.0K
-46.14%
Banana(1kg)
$2.19MUR 104
$1.61COP 5,073
36.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46MUR 69.2
$2.25COP 7,083
-35.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.92MUR 139
$2.25COP 7,104
29.78%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95MUR 45.19
$2.04COP 6,444
-53.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.01MUR 47.97
$1.54COP 4,842
-34.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74MUR 35.23
$1.17COP 3,691
-36.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83MUR 39.54
$1.31COP 4,121
-36.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.13MUR 291
$3.90COP 12.3K
57.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.33MUR 396
$14.01COP 44.2K
-40.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MUR 77.0
$1.74COP 5,498
-6.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87MUR 88.9
$2.87COP 9,053
-34.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.83MUR 39.33
$1.22COP 3,834
-31.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$80.5COP 253.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.27MUR 203
$1.31COP 4,129
225.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.20MUR 152
$2.19COP 6,899
46.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.40MUR 304
$8.71COP 27.5K
-26.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33MUR 62.9
$1.37COP 4,306
-2.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMUR 1.4M
$27.8KCOP 87.8M
6.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7KMUR 1.5M
$35.8KCOP 112.8M
-11.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.05MUR 2,140
$177COP 559.3K
-74.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.74MUR 510
$13.88COP 43.8K
-22.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.92MUR 1,374
$29.72COP 93.8K
-2.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.04MUR 1,997
$44.88COP 141.6K
-6.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12COP 54.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.42MUR 305
$6.65COP 21.0K
-3.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$130MUR 6,157
$813COP 2.6M
-84.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,114MUR 147.9K
$9,187COP 29.0M
-66.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.9MUR 2,657
$89.5COP 282.3K
-37.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.81MUR 2,176
$59.0COP 186.0K
-22.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.6MUR 4,065
$138COP 435.9K
-38.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.1MUR 2,805
$102COP 322.1K
-42.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$754MUR 35.8K
$1,062COP 3.3M
-29.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368MUR 17.5K
$663COP 2.1M
-44.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,400MUR 66.5K
$1,888COP 6.0M
-25.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$907MUR 43.1K
$1,027COP 3.2M
-11.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,183COP 13.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,675COP 5.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$844MUR 40.1K
$678COP 2.1M
24.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
10.94
-39.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tamarin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $754 in Tamarin versus $1,062 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 25% 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 $38.00 in Tamarin versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $199 vs $305 – making Tamarin 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 76%, 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 $1,432 per month in Tamarin and $2,521 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 in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tamarin and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Tamarin and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 53% 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 living in Tamarin or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tamarin, where all-in costs run around $955, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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.