😐A single person spends $2,174 per month in Tarxien vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,331 per month in Tarxien vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,487 per month in Tarxien vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Tarxien costs about 33% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tarxien and Medellin sit above the global median – Tarxien by 58%, Medellin by 19%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tarxien
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.30€20.08
$8.04COP 24.8K
189.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.0€81.0
$48.29COP 148.6K
94.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.66€11.77
$9.42COP 29.0K
45.01%
Cappuccino
$3.33€2.87
$2.94COP 9,040
13.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44€2.11
$1.86COP 5,735
31.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.71
$1.46COP 4,479
36.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.94€5.12
$3.21COP 9,882
85.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.78€5.84
$5.71COP 17.6K
18.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tarxien
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36€1.17
$1.44COP 4,428
-5.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46€1.26
$2.40COP 7,389
-39.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.72€3.20
$1.70COP 5,228
118.82%
Eggs
$4.62€3.98
$2.89COP 8,896
59.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.87€9.37
$10.06COP 30.9K
8.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.62€10.88
$9.97COP 30.7K
26.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.96€16.35
$14.20COP 43.7K
33.52%
Apples(1kg)
$3.94€3.39
$3.98COP 12.3K
-1.01%
Banana(1kg)
$2.88€2.48
$1.58COP 4,878
82.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.10€3.54
$2.15COP 6,624
90.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.92€3.38
$2.30COP 7,078
70.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91€1.65
$2.00COP 6,169
-4.50%
Onion(1kg)
$3.38€2.91
$1.51COP 4,646
123.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.28€1.96
$1.20COP 3,701
90.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.60€1.38
$1.28COP 3,946
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.46€5.57
$3.84COP 11.8K
68.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.33€5.45
$14.01COP 43.1K
-54.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47€2.13
$1.71COP 5,256
44.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$2.74COP 8,440
-13.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Tarxien
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.48€2.14
$1.25COP 3,834
98.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$77.9COP 239.7K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.01€3.45
$1.31COP 4,016
206.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.89€1.63
$2.17COP 6,680
-12.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.27€28.68
$8.29COP 25.5K
301.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57€1.36
$1.36COP 4,172
15.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K€25.1K
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
5.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.9K€35.2K
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
11.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tarxien
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$164€141
$169COP 519.2K
-2.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.24€27.79
$13.57COP 41.8K
137.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.93€26.66
$28.32COP 87.2K
9.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tarxien
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.8€55.0
$45.71COP 140.7K
39.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.55€9.96
$6.65COP 20.5K
73.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tarxien
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$283€244
$803COP 2.5M
-64.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.6K€10.9K
$9,190COP 28.3M
37.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tarxien
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.0€64.6
$87.4COP 268.8K
-14.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.6€54.8
$59.4COP 182.7K
7.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115€99.2
$139COP 427.5K
-17.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€115
$102COP 314.0K
30.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tarxien
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,189€1,025
$1,071COP 3.3M
11.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$970€836
$653COP 2.0M
48.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,821€1,570
$1,925COP 5.9M
-5.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,550€1,336
$1,048COP 3.2M
47.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,962€3,415
$4,123COP 12.7M
-3.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,847€2,455
$1,697COP 5.2M
67.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tarxien
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$655COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.05
10.94
-62.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tarxien: September 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,189 in Tarxien versus $1,071 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $94.0 in Tarxien versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $358 vs $300 – 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
Tarxien vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Tarxien?
Yes – Tarxien is pricier by about 33%, 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 $3,262 per month in Tarxien and $2,462 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 Tarxien or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $94.0 in Tarxien and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Tarxien and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 19% more in Tarxien, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Tarxien or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Tarxien at $2,174. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tarxien it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tarxien 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, Tarxien 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, Tarxien makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.