😐A single person spends $1,216 per month in Tarnow vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,691 per month in Tarnow vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Tarnow vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Tarnow costs about 20% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tarnow and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Tarnow9% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tarnow
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.39zł 34.23
$5.99COP 21.3K
56.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.08zł 98.8
$32.86COP 116.9K
-17.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.84zł 24.96
$7.09COP 25.2K
-3.53%
Cappuccino
$2.77zł 10.10
$1.71COP 6,093
61.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08zł 7.59
$1.10COP 3,910
89.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35zł 4.91
$0.78COP 2,771
73.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.06zł 11.14
$1.68COP 5,976
82.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56zł 12.99
$3.07COP 10.9K
15.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tarnow
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00zł 3.63
$1.09COP 3,892
-8.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25zł 4.55
$1.26COP 4,492
-0.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38zł 5.04
$1.38COP 4,905
-
Eggs
$2.58zł 9.40
$2.19COP 7,799
17.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.53zł 27.46
$4.40COP 15.7K
71.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.50zł 23.69
$5.63COP 20.0K
15.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.88zł 36.02
$8.89COP 31.6K
11.14%
Apples(1kg)
$0.77zł 2.82
$2.34COP 8,319
-67.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61zł 5.87
$1.06COP 3,764
51.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.33zł 4.84
$1.50COP 5,355
-11.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16zł 7.86
$1.38COP 4,906
56.52%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84zł 3.08
$1.15COP 4,097
-26.96%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08zł 3.94
$1.16COP 4,141
-6.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10zł 4.03
$0.89COP 3,170
23.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60zł 2.18
$0.84COP 2,986
-28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52zł 16.49
$2.28COP 8,116
98.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.64zł 27.87
$10.64COP 37.9K
-28.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89zł 3.23
$1.20COP 4,268
-25.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43zł 5.20
$2.47COP 8,793
-42.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Tarnow
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06zł 3.87
$0.86COP 3,045
23.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.18zł 121
$41.40COP 147.3K
-19.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38zł 5.03
$1.47COP 5,245
-6.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.52zł 1.89
$1.96COP 6,984
-73.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.76zł 50.2
$7.74COP 27.5K
77.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75zł 6.39
$0.95COP 3,397
84.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3Kzł 121.5K
$18.1KCOP 64.5M
83.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1Kzł 88.0K
$26.5KCOP 94.2M
-8.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tarnow
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$258zł 941
$82.3COP 292.7K
213.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.51zł 27.38
$9.50COP 33.8K
-20.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.30zł 59.4
$24.23COP 86.2K
-32.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tarnow
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.92zł 98.2
$25.89COP 92.1K
3.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.43zł 45.31
$19.00COP 67.6K
-34.58%
Cinema Ticket
$4.78zł 17.44
$3.93COP 14.0K
21.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tarnow
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$330zł 1,202
$309COP 1.1M
6.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,798zł 17.5K
$5,965COP 21.2M
-19.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tarnow
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.0zł 303
$58.7COP 208.7K
41.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.08zł 98.7
$32.35COP 115.1K
-16.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.5zł 297
$103COP 365.1K
-20.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122zł 444
$108COP 385.8K
12.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tarnow
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$461zł 1,682
$476COP 1.7M
-3.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$367zł 1,340
$379COP 1.3M
-3.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$660zł 2,405
$838COP 3.0M
-21.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$485zł 1,769
$724COP 2.6M
-32.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,835zł 10.3K
$2,791COP 9.9M
1.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,907zł 6,952
$1,211COP 4.3M
57.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tarnow
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,068zł 3,893
$512COP 1.8M
108.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.28
13.43
-53.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tarnow: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $461 in Tarnow versus $476 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 109% higher in Tarnow, 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 $27.00 in Tarnow versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $191 in Tarnow vs $188 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Tarnow vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Tarnow?
Yes – Tarnow is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,824 per month in Tarnow and $1,519 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 Tarnow or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Tarnow and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Tarnow vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,216 in Tarnow and $1,013 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 Tarnow or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Tarnow at $1,216. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tarnow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tarnow 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 safer, Tarnow 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tarnow makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.