Cost of Living Comparison Between Tampa, FL and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Tampa, FL and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,991 per month in Tampa, FL vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,398 per month in Tampa, FL vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,805 per month in Tampa, FL vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Tampa, FL costs about 194% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tampa, FL sits 123% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tampa, FL
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.01 $20.01
$5.95 COPΒ 20.8K
236.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.3 $80.3
$33.33 COPΒ 116.3K
140.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.11 $12.11
$7.23 COPΒ 25.2K
67.50%
Cappuccino
$5.03 $5.03
$1.63 COPΒ 5,687
208.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$1.09 COPΒ 3,821
149.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$0.73 COPΒ 2,548
182.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.01 $7.01
$1.74 COPΒ 6,065
302.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.80 $7.80
$3.23 COPΒ 11.3K
141.49%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Tampa, FL
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.05 COPΒ 3,662
17.14%
White Bread (500g)
$4.09 $4.09
$1.29 COPΒ 4,515
217.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.30 $5.30
$1.32 COPΒ 4,617
301.52%
Eggs
$4.49 $4.49
$2.27 COPΒ 7,927
97.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.87 $15.87
$4.35 COPΒ 15.2K
264.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.61 $11.61
$5.88 COPΒ 20.5K
97.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.72 $15.72
$8.61 COPΒ 30.0K
82.58%
Apples (1kg)
$6.46 $6.46
$2.25 COPΒ 7,844
187.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.07 COPΒ 3,733
70.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.21 $4.21
$1.52 COPΒ 5,322
176.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.60 $4.60
$1.42 COPΒ 4,964
223.94%
Potato (1kg)
$3.47 $3.47
$1.17 COPΒ 4,084
196.58%
Onion (1kg)
$3.62 $3.62
$1.17 COPΒ 4,077
209.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.35 $2.35
$0.89 COPΒ 3,096
164.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$0.90 COPΒ 3,146
176.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.87 $7.87
$2.25 COPΒ 7,837
249.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$11.04 COPΒ 38.5K
33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$1.14 COPΒ 3,977
122.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 $3.54
$2.38 COPΒ 8,301
48.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Tampa, FL
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.84 COPΒ 2,916
144.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.2 $66.2
$41.95 COPΒ 146.4K
57.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.41 COPΒ 4,912
79.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.90 COPΒ 6,634
-22.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.30 $30.30
$7.75 COPΒ 27.0K
290.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.01 COPΒ 3,509
-6.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K $34.5K
$17.6K COPΒ 61.4M
96.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.5K COPΒ 92.5M
-0.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tampa, FL
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$232 $232
$83.7 COPΒ 292.1K
176.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.3 $70.3
$9.45 COPΒ 33.0K
644.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.4 $68.4
$24.11 COPΒ 84.1K
183.78%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Tampa, FL
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.73 $37.73
$25.31 COPΒ 88.3K
49.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.93 $12.93
$19.14 COPΒ 66.8K
-32.45%
Cinema Ticket
$16.05 $16.05
$4.10 COPΒ 14.3K
291.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tampa, FL
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,293 $1,293
$312 COPΒ 1.1M
314.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.2K $14.2K
$5,993 COPΒ 20.9M
136.85%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Tampa, FL
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 $56.7
$58.0 COPΒ 202.6K
-2.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.03 $37.03
$32.56 COPΒ 113.6K
13.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 $95.4
$99.6 COPΒ 347.7K
-4.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 $135
$109 COPΒ 378.8K
24.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tampa, FL
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,025 $2,025
$482 COPΒ 1.7M
319.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,553 $1,553
$379 COPΒ 1.3M
309.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,658 $3,658
$837 COPΒ 2.9M
336.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,696 $2,696
$723 COPΒ 2.5M
272.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,287 $5,287
$2,840 COPΒ 9.9M
86.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,295 $2,295
$1,223 COPΒ 4.3M
87.66%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Tampa, FL
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,504 $4,504
$541 COPΒ 1.9M
732.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.48
13.43
-51.75%

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

Last update for Tampa, FL: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,025 in Tampa, FL 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 733% higher in Tampa, FL, 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 Tampa, FL versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $434 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
Tampa, FL vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Tampa, FL?
Yes – Tampa, FL is pricier by about 194%, 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 $4,487 per month in Tampa, FL 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 Tampa, FL or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Tampa, FL and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafΓ© pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Tampa, FL vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,991 in Tampa, FL 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 Tampa, FL or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Tampa, FL at $2,991. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tampa, FL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tampa, FL 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, Tampa, FL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Tampa, FL vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities