Cost of Living Comparison Between Taubate and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Taubate and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $719 per month in Taubate vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,133 per month in Taubate vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,546 per month in Taubate vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Taubate is about 30% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Taubate and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Taubate 46% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taubate
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.26 R$26.87
$6.16 COP 20.1K
-14.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.58 R$182
$32.60 COP 106.1K
9.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.11 R$31.24
$7.34 COP 23.9K
-16.76%
Cappuccino
$1.92 R$9.79
$1.72 COP 5,600
11.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 R$6.04
$1.05 COP 3,420
12.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 R$3.46
$0.77 COP 2,515
-11.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.85 R$9.47
$1.69 COP 5,488
9.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 R$14.19
$3.17 COP 10.3K
-12.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taubate
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 R$5.02
$1.05 COP 3,423
-6.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.78 R$9.08
$1.30 COP 4,236
36.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 R$7.16
$1.40 COP 4,544
-
Eggs
$1.94 R$9.92
$2.16 COP 7,047
-10.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.13 R$41.53
$4.39 COP 14.3K
85.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.52 R$17.99
$5.88 COP 19.1K
-40.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.26 R$37.10
$8.64 COP 28.1K
-15.97%
Apples (1kg)
$1.93 R$9.85
$2.28 COP 7,426
-15.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 R$7.71
$1.11 COP 3,604
36.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.27 R$6.51
$1.53 COP 4,983
-16.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 R$7.68
$1.35 COP 4,410
11.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.27 R$6.50
$1.13 COP 3,674
12.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 R$5.64
$1.13 COP 3,692
-2.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 R$3.51
$0.85 COP 2,753
-18.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 R$3.11
$0.91 COP 2,975
-32.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.95 R$9.99
$2.34 COP 7,630
-16.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.98 R$40.79
$12.37 COP 40.3K
-35.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 R$6.19
$1.20 COP 3,909
0.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 R$10.92
$2.49 COP 8,104
-14.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Taubate
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 R$4.48
$0.84 COP 2,728
4.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.42 R$73.7
$40.57 COP 132.1K
-64.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.07 R$5.49
$1.42 COP 4,623
-24.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 R$3.55
$1.92 COP 6,235
-64.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.50 R$38.33
$7.66 COP 24.9K
-2.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 R$4.89
$0.99 COP 3,223
-3.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K R$102.7K
$18.0K COP 58.7M
11.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9K R$142.5K
$26.6K COP 86.7M
4.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taubate
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.8 R$423
$80.8 COP 263.1K
2.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.61 R$44.01
$9.95 COP 32.4K
-13.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.17 R$98.0
$24.18 COP 78.7K
-20.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taubate
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.19 R$108
$25.08 COP 81.7K
-15.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.61 R$54.3
$19.15 COP 62.3K
-44.60%
Cinema Ticket
$6.44 R$32.90
$3.98 COP 13.0K
61.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taubate
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$324 R$1,654
$305 COP 993.5K
6.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,442 R$27.8K
$6,059 COP 19.7M
-10.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taubate
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.81 R$234
$58.1 COP 189.2K
-21.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.65 R$213
$32.20 COP 104.8K
29.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.7 R$387
$101 COP 327.9K
-24.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.1 R$292
$108 COP 350.8K
-47.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taubate
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$240 R$1,226
$477 COP 1.6M
-49.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$174 R$887
$376 COP 1.2M
-53.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$494 R$2,525
$845 COP 2.7M
-41.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$302 R$1,545
$730 COP 2.4M
-58.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,608 R$8,219
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-49.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,147 R$5,863
$1,372 COP 4.5M
-16.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taubate
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$563 R$2,875
$617 COP 2.0M
-8.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.33
13.43
-15.64%

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

Last update for Taubate: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $240 in Taubate 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 10% higher in Medellin, 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 $36.00 in Taubate versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $178 in Taubate vs $193 in Medellin – so Taubate 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
Taubate vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Taubate?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 43%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,079 per month in Taubate 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 Taubate, 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 Taubate or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Taubate 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 Taubate and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $719 in Taubate and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Taubate or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Taubate, where all-in costs run around $719, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Taubate it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Taubate or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Taubate – 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 Taubate. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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