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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $731 per month in Taubate vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,161 per month in Taubate vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,590 per month in Taubate vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Taubate is about 28% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Taubate and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Taubate 45% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taubate
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.42 R$27.13
$5.99 COP 21.4K
-9.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.79 R$179
$32.86 COP 117.4K
8.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.19 R$30.99
$7.09 COP 25.3K
-12.69%
Cappuccino
$1.99 R$9.98
$1.71 COP 6,115
16.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 R$5.78
$1.10 COP 3,924
5.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 R$3.22
$0.78 COP 2,781
-17.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.77 R$8.86
$1.68 COP 5,997
5.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 R$13.68
$3.07 COP 11.0K
-11.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taubate
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 R$4.71
$1.09 COP 3,906
-13.76%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 R$8.83
$1.26 COP 4,508
40.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.41 R$7.04
$1.38 COP 4,922
2.17%
Eggs
$1.94 R$9.71
$2.19 COP 7,827
-11.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.92 R$39.65
$4.40 COP 15.7K
80.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 R$17.44
$5.63 COP 20.1K
-38.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.06 R$35.33
$8.89 COP 31.8K
-20.58%
Apples (1kg)
$1.85 R$9.27
$2.34 COP 8,349
-20.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 R$7.73
$1.06 COP 3,777
45.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.23 R$6.17
$1.50 COP 5,374
-18.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 R$7.78
$1.38 COP 4,924
12.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.27 R$6.38
$1.15 COP 4,111
10.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 R$5.76
$1.16 COP 4,155
-0.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.64 R$3.18
$0.89 COP 3,182
-28.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 R$2.88
$0.84 COP 2,997
-30.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.95 R$9.76
$2.28 COP 8,145
-14.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.19 R$45.99
$10.64 COP 38.0K
-13.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 R$6.28
$1.20 COP 4,284
5.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 R$10.62
$2.47 COP 8,824
-14.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Taubate
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.82 R$4.12
$0.86 COP 3,056
-4.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.50 R$72.6
$41.40 COP 147.9K
-64.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.13 R$5.64
$1.47 COP 5,264
-23.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.66 R$3.31
$1.96 COP 7,009
-66.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.43 R$37.17
$7.74 COP 27.6K
-4.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 R$4.82
$0.95 COP 3,409
1.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.0K R$100.0K
$18.1K COP 64.7M
10.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K R$135.2K
$26.5K COP 94.6M
2.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taubate
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.1 R$401
$82.3 COP 293.7K
-2.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.71 R$43.58
$9.50 COP 33.9K
-8.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.01 R$95.1
$24.23 COP 86.5K
-21.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taubate
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.34 R$107
$25.89 COP 92.4K
-17.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.89 R$54.5
$19.00 COP 67.9K
-42.68%
Cinema Ticket
$6.40 R$32.04
$3.93 COP 14.0K
62.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taubate
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$324 R$1,621
$309 COP 1.1M
4.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,510 R$27.6K
$5,965 COP 21.3M
-7.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taubate
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.01 R$230
$58.7 COP 209.5K
-21.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.81 R$209
$32.35 COP 115.5K
29.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.0 R$380
$103 COP 366.4K
-25.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.7 R$284
$108 COP 387.2K
-47.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taubate
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$244 R$1,223
$476 COP 1.7M
-48.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$174 R$872
$379 COP 1.4M
-54.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$505 R$2,525
$838 COP 3.0M
-39.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$303 R$1,517
$724 COP 2.6M
-58.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,262 R$6,317
$2,791 COP 10.0M
-54.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,195 R$5,981
$1,211 COP 4.3M
-1.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taubate
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$584 R$2,921
$512 COP 1.8M
14.06%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $244 in Taubate 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 14% higher in Taubate, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Taubate versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $179 in Taubate vs $188 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 38%, 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 $1,097 per month in Taubate 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 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 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 vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $731 in Taubate and $1,013 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 Taubate or Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Taubate, where all-in costs run around $731, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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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