πA single person spends $2,991 per month in Tampa, FL vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
πA couple spends around $4,398 per month in Tampa, FL vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
πA family of three spends $5,805 per month in Tampa, FL vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
πTampa, FL costs about 194% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πTampa, FL sits 123% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below β they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Tampa, FL
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.01$20.01
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
236.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.3$80.3
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
140.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.11$12.11
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
67.50%
Cappuccino
$5.03$5.03
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
208.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72$2.72
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
149.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06$2.06
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
182.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.01$7.01
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
302.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.80$7.80
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
141.49%
π Groceries & Markets
Tampa, FL
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23$1.23
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
17.14%
White Bread(500g)
$4.09$4.09
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
217.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.30$5.30
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
301.52%
Eggs
$4.49$4.49
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
97.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.87$15.87
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
264.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.61$11.61
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
97.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.72$15.72
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
82.58%
Apples(1kg)
$6.46$6.46
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
187.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.82$1.82
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
70.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.21$4.21
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
176.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.60$4.60
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
223.94%
Potato(1kg)
$3.47$3.47
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
196.58%
Onion(1kg)
$3.62$3.62
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
209.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.35$2.35
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
164.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.49$2.49
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
176.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.87$7.87
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
249.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.72$14.72
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
33.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.54$2.54
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
122.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54$3.54
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
48.74%
π Getting Around
Tampa, FL
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.05$2.05
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
144.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.2$66.2
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
57.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.53$2.53
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
79.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.47$1.47
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
-22.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.30$30.30
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
290.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94$0.94
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
-6.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K$34.5K
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
96.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K$26.3K
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
-0.61%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tampa, FL
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$232$232
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
176.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.3$70.3
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
644.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.4$68.4
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
183.78%
π Sport & Entertainment
Tampa, FL
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.73$37.73
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
49.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.93$12.93
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
-32.45%
Cinema Ticket
$16.05$16.05
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
291.46%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Tampa, FL
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,293$1,293
$312COPΒ 1.1M
314.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.2K$14.2K
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
136.85%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Tampa, FL
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7$56.7
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
-2.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.03$37.03
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
13.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.4$95.4
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
-4.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135$135
$109COPΒ 378.8K
24.60%
π Accommodation & Living
Tampa, FL
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,025$2,025
$482COPΒ 1.7M
319.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,553$1,553
$379COPΒ 1.3M
309.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,658$3,658
$837COPΒ 2.9M
336.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,696$2,696
$723COPΒ 2.5M
272.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,287$5,287
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
86.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,295$2,295
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
87.66%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Tampa, FL
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,504$4,504
$541COPΒ 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 β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tampa, FL: June 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π 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.
π°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.
πA 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 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
Tampa, FL vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Tampa, FL?
Yes β 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 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 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 β 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 β 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.