πA single person spends $1,025 per month in TamΓ‘si vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,585 per month in TamΓ‘si vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,145 per month in TamΓ‘si vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
πTamΓ‘si costs about 1% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
πBoth TamΓ‘si and Medellin are more affordable than the global median β TamΓ‘si24% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
TamΓ‘si
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.67FtΒ 2,320
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
28.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.89FtΒ 13.9K
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
37.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.63FtΒ 1,703
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
-22.13%
Cappuccino
$2.06FtΒ 624
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
26.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49FtΒ 451
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
36.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39FtΒ 419
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
90.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.27FtΒ 687
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
30.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12FtΒ 640
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
-34.37%
π Groceries & Markets
TamΓ‘si
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05FtΒ 317
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.60FtΒ 485
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
24.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18FtΒ 358
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
-10.61%
Eggs
$2.04FtΒ 616
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
-10.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.70FtΒ 2,330
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
77.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.65FtΒ 1,711
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
-3.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.26FtΒ 3,407
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
30.78%
Apples(1kg)
$1.37FtΒ 414
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
-39.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.41FtΒ 426
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
31.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75FtΒ 528
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
15.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.77FtΒ 839
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
95.07%
Potato(1kg)
$0.96FtΒ 291
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
-17.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19FtΒ 359
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
1.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.43FtΒ 432
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
60.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48FtΒ 145
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
-46.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.36FtΒ 1,924
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
182.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.16FtΒ 1,260
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
-62.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92FtΒ 280
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
-19.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46FtΒ 442
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
-38.66%
π Getting Around
TamΓ‘si
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18FtΒ 357
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
40.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.37FtΒ 7,675
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
-39.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.88FtΒ 870
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
104.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29FtΒ 390
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
-32.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.46FtΒ 5,283
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
125.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.68FtΒ 509
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
66.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2KFtΒ 7.9M
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
49.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3KFtΒ 7.6M
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
-4.67%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
TamΓ‘si
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105FtΒ 31.7K
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
25.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.87FtΒ 7,524
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
163.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.41FtΒ 4,058
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
-44.38%
π Sport & Entertainment
TamΓ‘si
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.78FtΒ 14.2K
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
84.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.60FtΒ 5,023
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
-13.27%
Cinema Ticket
$6.98FtΒ 2,111
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
70.24%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
TamΓ‘si
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$223FtΒ 67.4K
$312COPΒ 1.1M
-28.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,210FtΒ 1.9M
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
3.63%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
TamΓ‘si
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.9FtΒ 25.1K
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
42.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.76FtΒ 9,004
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
-8.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.5FtΒ 21.0K
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
-30.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.1FtΒ 17.6K
$109COPΒ 378.8K
-46.52%
π Accommodation & Living
TamΓ‘si
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$451FtΒ 136.4K
$482COPΒ 1.7M
-6.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$339FtΒ 102.6K
$379COPΒ 1.3M
-10.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$633FtΒ 191.7K
$837COPΒ 2.9M
-24.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$539FtΒ 163.2K
$723COPΒ 2.5M
-25.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,333FtΒ 1.0M
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
17.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,104FtΒ 636.7K
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
72.06%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
TamΓ‘si
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,251FtΒ 378.3K
$541COPΒ 1.9M
131.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.85
13.43
-56.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for TamΓ‘si: June 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $451 in TamΓ‘si 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 131% higher in TamΓ‘si, 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 $46.00 in TamΓ‘si versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 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
TamΓ‘si vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than TamΓ‘si?
Yes β TamΓ‘si 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 $1,537 per month in TamΓ‘si 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 TamΓ‘si vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,025 in TamΓ‘si 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 TamΓ‘si or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in TamΓ‘si at $1,025. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in TamΓ‘si it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is TamΓ‘si 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, TamΓ‘si 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, TamΓ‘si makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.