πA single person spends $1,024 per month in Tamarin vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,710 per month in Tamarin vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,396 per month in Tamarin vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
πTamarin costs about 1% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
πBoth Tamarin and Medellin are more affordable than the global median β Tamarin24% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.47MURΒ 304
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
8.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.92MURΒ 1,974
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
25.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.51MURΒ 260
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
-23.79%
Cappuccino
$2.58MURΒ 122
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
58.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84MURΒ 39.63
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
-22.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59MURΒ 27.92
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
-19.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69MURΒ 79.7
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
-2.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73MURΒ 81.7
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
-46.44%
π Groceries & Markets
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49MURΒ 70.0
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
41.90%
White Bread(500g)
$0.40MURΒ 18.77
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
-68.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.31MURΒ 61.8
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
-0.76%
Eggs
$2.11MURΒ 99.5
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
-7.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.35MURΒ 252
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
22.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.24MURΒ 294
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
6.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.62MURΒ 453
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
11.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.07MURΒ 97.6
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
-8.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.97MURΒ 92.7
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
84.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46MURΒ 68.7
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
-3.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.67MURΒ 126
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
88.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02MURΒ 48.09
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
-12.82%
Onion(1kg)
$0.98MURΒ 46.33
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
-16.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.78MURΒ 36.82
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
-12.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81MURΒ 37.96
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
-10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.49MURΒ 306
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
188.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.44MURΒ 397
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
-23.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MURΒ 80.5
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
50.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MURΒ 76.1
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
-31.93%
π Getting Around
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18MURΒ 55.5
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
40.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.99MURΒ 517
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
-73.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.47MURΒ 211
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
217.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.74MURΒ 129
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
44.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.69MURΒ 315
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
-13.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MURΒ 61.6
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
29.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KMURΒ 1.3M
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
61.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4KMURΒ 1.3M
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
3.29%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$49.29MURΒ 2,321
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
-41.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.05MURΒ 756
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
69.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.43MURΒ 1,433
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
26.21%
π Sport & Entertainment
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.9MURΒ 2,396
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
101.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.10MURΒ 523
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
-42.01%
Cinema Ticket
$6.12MURΒ 288
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
49.27%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$153MURΒ 7,186
$312COPΒ 1.1M
-51.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,115MURΒ 146.7K
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
-48.02%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2MURΒ 2,789
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
2.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.35MURΒ 2,230
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
45.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.1MURΒ 4,103
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
-12.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.3MURΒ 2,794
$109COPΒ 378.8K
-45.34%
π Accommodation & Living
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$781MURΒ 36.8K
$482COPΒ 1.7M
61.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$388MURΒ 18.3K
$379COPΒ 1.3M
2.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,452MURΒ 68.4K
$837COPΒ 2.9M
73.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$925MURΒ 43.6K
$723COPΒ 2.5M
27.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Tamarin
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$851MURΒ 40.1K
$541COPΒ 1.9M
57.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6
13.43
-55.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tamarin: June 9, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $781 in Tamarin 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.
π°Salaries run about 57% higher in Tamarin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Tamarin versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $190 β 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 β Tamarin is pricier by about 1%, 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 $1,536 per month in Tamarin and $1,525 in Medellin. 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 Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Tamarin vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,024 in Tamarin and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tamarin or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Tamarin at $1,024. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tamarin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tamarin or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin β 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 β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
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, Tamarin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.