😐A single person spends $1,240 per month in Tarnow vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,691 per month in Tarnow vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,142 per month in Tarnow vs $2,167 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 – Tarnow7% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tarnow
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.65zł 36.60
$6.16COP 20.1K
56.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.76zł 102
$32.60COP 106.1K
-17.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.78zł 25.74
$7.34COP 23.9K
-7.63%
Cappuccino
$2.76zł 10.47
$1.72COP 5,599
60.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15zł 8.15
$1.05COP 3,420
104.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35zł 5.12
$0.77COP 2,515
75.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96zł 11.25
$1.69COP 5,487
75.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76zł 14.28
$3.17COP 10.3K
18.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tarnow
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00zł 3.80
$1.05COP 3,423
-4.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.19zł 4.50
$1.30COP 4,236
-8.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33zł 5.04
$1.40COP 4,544
-5.00%
Eggs
$2.62zł 9.94
$2.16COP 7,046
21.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.73zł 29.33
$4.39COP 14.3K
76.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.56zł 24.90
$5.88COP 19.1K
11.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.60zł 36.41
$8.64COP 28.1K
11.11%
Apples(1kg)
$0.85zł 3.22
$2.28COP 7,425
-62.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56zł 5.93
$1.11COP 3,603
40.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.38zł 5.23
$1.53COP 4,982
-9.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.14zł 8.10
$1.35COP 4,410
58.52%
Potato(1kg)
$0.78zł 2.94
$1.13COP 3,674
-30.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08zł 4.09
$1.13COP 3,692
-4.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10zł 4.18
$0.85COP 2,753
29.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60zł 2.29
$0.91COP 2,975
-34.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.48zł 16.99
$2.34COP 7,629
91.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.27zł 27.59
$12.37COP 40.3K
-41.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96zł 3.66
$1.20COP 3,909
-20.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47zł 5.59
$2.49COP 8,104
-40.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Tarnow
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.07zł 4.06
$0.84COP 2,727
27.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.96zł 125
$40.57COP 132.1K
-18.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35zł 5.11
$1.42COP 4,623
-4.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49zł 1.85
$1.92COP 6,235
-74.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.72zł 52.1
$7.66COP 24.9K
79.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.69zł 6.41
$0.99COP 3,223
70.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3Kzł 126.3K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
84.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5Kzł 92.8K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-8.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tarnow
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$259zł 983
$80.8COP 263.1K
220.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.50zł 28.46
$9.95COP 32.4K
-24.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.95zł 60.5
$24.18COP 78.7K
-34.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tarnow
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.24zł 103
$25.08COP 81.6K
8.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.11zł 45.94
$19.15COP 62.3K
-36.76%
Cinema Ticket
$4.90zł 18.59
$3.98COP 13.0K
23.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tarnow
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$327zł 1,240
$305COP 993.4K
7.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,707zł 17.9K
$6,059COP 19.7M
-22.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tarnow
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7zł 321
$58.1COP 189.2K
45.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.01zł 102
$32.20COP 104.8K
-16.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.6zł 310
$101COP 327.9K
-18.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119zł 453
$108COP 350.8K
10.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tarnow
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$456zł 1,732
$477COP 1.6M
-4.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$367zł 1,394
$376COP 1.2M
-2.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$659zł 2,499
$845COP 2.7M
-22.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$486zł 1,845
$730COP 2.4M
-33.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,727zł 10.3K
$3,215COP 10.5M
-15.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,810zł 6,867
$1,372COP 4.5M
31.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tarnow
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,027zł 3,896
$617COP 2.0M
66.46%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $456 in Tarnow versus $477 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 66% 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. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $193 – making Tarnow 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
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 $1,859 per month in Tarnow and $1,546 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 in 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 and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,240 in Tarnow and $1,031 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 living in Tarnow or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Tarnow at $1,240. 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.