Cost of Living Comparison Between Tena and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Tena and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $813 per month in Tena vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,184 per month in Tena vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,556 per month in Tena vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Tena is about 21% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tena and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Tena 39% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.07 $3.07

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-50.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.93 $17.93

$32.60 COP 106.1K

-45.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 $5.35

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-27.11%

Cappuccino

$2.29 $2.29

$1.72 COP 5,600

33.14%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.05 COP 3,420

0.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 $0.71

$0.77 COP 2,515

-7.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.69 COP 5,488

-11.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-19.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.05 COP 3,423

0.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.30 COP 4,236

-21.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.40 COP 4,544

-9.29%

Eggs

$1.75 $1.75

$2.16 COP 7,047

-18.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$4.39 COP 14.3K

-41.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.08 $3.08

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-47.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.51 $3.51

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-59.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.28 COP 7,426

-9.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.11 COP 3,604

4.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.53 COP 4,983

-33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.35 COP 4,410

-1.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.13 COP 3,674

16.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.13 COP 3,692

-14.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.85 COP 2,753

-38.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.91 COP 2,975

12.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.47 $3.47

$2.34 COP 7,630

48.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.92 $4.92

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-60.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.20 COP 3,909

25.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.49 COP 8,104

-38.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 $0.39

$0.84 COP 2,728

-53.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.30 $24.30

$40.57 COP 132.1K

-40.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.42 COP 4,623

-14.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.92 COP 6,235

-46.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.96 $4.96

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-35.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.99 COP 3,223

-32.32%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.4K $20.4K

$18.0K COP 58.7M

13.06%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.6K COP 86.7M

-4.52%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$25.49 $25.49

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-68.46%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.38 $14.38

$9.95 COP 32.4K

44.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.21 $15.21

$24.18 COP 78.7K

-37.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.91 $29.91

$25.08 COP 81.7K

19.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.57 $14.57

$19.15 COP 62.3K

-23.92%

Cinema Ticket

$7.17 $7.17

$3.98 COP 13.0K

80.15%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$276 $276

$305 COP 993.5K

-9.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,481 $8,481

$6,059 COP 19.7M

39.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.7 $57.7

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-0.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.08 $44.08

$32.20 COP 104.8K

36.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.5 $99.5

$101 COP 327.9K

-1.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.3 $84.3

$108 COP 350.8K

-21.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$340 $340

$477 COP 1.6M

-28.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$314 $314

$376 COP 1.2M

-16.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$620 $620

$845 COP 2.7M

-26.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 $491

$730 COP 2.4M

-32.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,313 $1,313

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-59.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$719 $719

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-47.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.19

13.43

-16.68%

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

Last update for Tena: July 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $340 in Tena 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Tena versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $135 vs $193 – making Tena 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

Tena vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,219 per month in Tena and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tena, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Tena and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $813 in Tena and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tena, where all-in costs run around $813, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Tena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tena – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Tena. 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.