Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Taupo and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,692 a month against $2,117 in Taupo, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Taupo, New Zealand
Medellin, Colombia
Taupo
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$2,117
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Taupo and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Taupo and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,117 per month in Taupo vs $1,692 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Taupo $2,117
  • Medellin $1,692

A couple spends around $3,116 per month in Taupo vs $2,471 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Taupo $3,116
  • Medellin $2,471

A family of three spends $4,115 per month in Taupo vs $3,249 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Taupo $4,115
  • Medellin $3,249

Taupo costs about 25% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Taupo and Medellin sit above the global median – Taupo by 57%, Medellin by 25%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taupo
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.09 NZ$25.04
$8.34 COP 27.0K
68.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4 NZ$123
$46.53 COP 150.9K
49.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.01 NZ$16.00
$9.47 COP 30.7K
-4.86%
Cappuccino
$3.48 NZ$6.17
$3.13 COP 10.2K
11.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 NZ$3.52
$1.77 COP 5,727
11.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 NZ$3.24
$1.42 COP 4,619
28.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.97 NZ$12.37
$3.15 COP 10.2K
121.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.98 NZ$12.41
$5.70 COP 18.5K
22.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taupo
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 NZ$3.43
$1.53 COP 4,969
26.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.25 NZ$3.99
$2.29 COP 7,429
-1.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 NZ$3.26
$1.94 COP 6,306
-5.15%
Eggs
$6.30 NZ$11.20
$3.07 COP 9,942
105.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.49 NZ$15.08
$9.99 COP 32.4K
-15.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.99 NZ$17.75
$10.45 COP 33.9K
-4.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.15 NZ$30.47
$13.96 COP 45.3K
22.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.84 NZ$5.04
$4.05 COP 13.1K
-29.88%
Banana (1kg)
$2.07 NZ$3.68
$1.53 COP 4,956
35.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.03 NZ$5.39
$2.10 COP 6,823
44.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.89 NZ$10.46
$2.29 COP 7,437
157.21%
Potato (1kg)
$2.19 NZ$3.89
$2.11 COP 6,839
3.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.53 NZ$2.73
$1.71 COP 5,542
-10.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.04 NZ$3.63
$1.17 COP 3,794
74.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 NZ$1.88
$1.58 COP 5,123
-32.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$27.30 NZ$48.50
$3.91 COP 12.7K
598.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.45 NZ$18.56
$14.04 COP 45.5K
-25.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 NZ$4.87
$1.76 COP 5,712
55.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 NZ$6.01
$2.71 COP 8,793
24.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Taupo
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 NZ$3.51
$1.18 COP 3,825
67.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$105 NZ$186
$76.3 COP 247.4K
37.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.32 NZ$4.12
$1.81 COP 5,859
28.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.02 NZ$3.58
$2.13 COP 6,904
-5.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.59 NZ$57.9
$8.13 COP 26.4K
300.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.84 NZ$3.26
$1.28 COP 4,135
43.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K NZ$49.3K
$34.4K COP 111.7M
-19.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K NZ$39.5K
$34.1K COP 110.7M
-34.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taupo
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$185 NZ$329
$178 COP 576.3K
4.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.72 NZ$47.47
$13.89 COP 45.0K
92.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15 NZ$69.6
$30.74 COP 99.7K
27.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taupo
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.41 NZ$70.0
$41.94 COP 136.0K
-6.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.80 COP 54.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.17 NZ$21.62
$7.47 COP 24.2K
62.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taupo
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,045 NZ$1,857
$790 COP 2.6M
32.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.3K NZ$34.3K
$12.3K COP 39.9M
57.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taupo
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.0 NZ$142
$86.3 COP 279.9K
-7.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.48 NZ$73.7
$59.3 COP 192.2K
-30.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 NZ$167
$138 COP 448.6K
-31.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 NZ$199
$98.8 COP 320.4K
13.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taupo
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,029 NZ$1,828
$1,341 COP 4.3M
-23.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$943 NZ$1,675
$667 COP 2.2M
41.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,612 NZ$2,864
$1,976 COP 6.4M
-18.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,494 NZ$2,654
$1,033 COP 3.3M
44.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,774 NZ$8,481
$4,098 COP 13.3M
16.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,373 NZ$5,992
$1,940 COP 6.3M
73.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taupo
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$646 COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.37
10.94
-50.91%

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

Last update for Taupo: November 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Taupo
$943
Medellin
$667 29.2% $276
Groceries & Markets
Taupo
$341
Medellin
$307 9.9% $34
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taupo
$251
Medellin
$222 11.5% $29
Eating Out
Taupo
$245
Medellin
$173 29.7% $73
Clothing & Footwear
Taupo
$147
Medellin
$172 16.8% $25
Getting Around
Taupo
$125
Medellin
$93 25.2% $31
Sport & Entertainment
Taupo
$64
Medellin
$57 10.8% $6.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,029 in Taupo versus $1,341 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 $69 in Taupo versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $341 vs $307 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇳🇿 Taupo
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
12:13 12:13 PM
18:13 6:13 PM
18 h behind Taupo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
26,000
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to NZD – New Zealand Dollar Converter

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 1.78 NZD (1 NZD = 0.563 USD). 1 EUR = 2 NZD (1 NZD = 0.5 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 3,242 COP (10,000 COP = 3.08 USD). 1 EUR = 3,650 COP (10,000 COP = 2.74 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Taupo Medellin 12,030 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Taupo
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Taupo vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Taupo?
Yes – Taupo is pricier by about 25%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,175 per month in Taupo and $2,538 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 Taupo, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,029 there versus $1,341 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Taupo or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69 in Taupo and $47 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 Taupo and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,117 in Taupo and $1,692 in Medellin. That makes Medellin about 20% cheaper.
Is $2,500 enough for either Taupo or Medellin?
$2,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $2,117 in Taupo and $1,692 in Medellin, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is it better to live in Taupo or in Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,692 in Medellin to $2,117 in Taupo. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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