Cost of Living Comparison Between Teresopolis and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Teresopolis and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $686 per month in Teresopolis vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,100 per month in Teresopolis vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,515 per month in Teresopolis vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Teresopolis is about 32% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Teresopolis and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Teresopolis 49% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Teresopolis
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.63 R$18.38
$5.99 COP 21.3K
-39.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.68 R$130
$32.86 COP 116.9K
-21.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.24 R$31.58
$7.09 COP 25.2K
-11.99%
Cappuccino
$1.60 R$8.09
$1.71 COP 6,093
-6.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 R$6.73
$1.10 COP 3,910
20.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 R$3.70
$0.78 COP 2,771
-6.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.77 R$8.95
$1.68 COP 5,976
5.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 R$13.30
$3.07 COP 10.9K
-14.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Teresopolis
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 R$5.85
$1.09 COP 3,892
6.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.76 R$8.92
$1.26 COP 4,492
39.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.43 R$7.25
$1.38 COP 4,905
3.62%
Eggs
$2.02 R$10.25
$2.19 COP 7,799
-7.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.92 R$40.10
$4.40 COP 15.7K
80.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.68 R$18.62
$5.63 COP 20.0K
-34.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.71 R$39.06
$8.89 COP 31.6K
-13.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.21 R$11.17
$2.34 COP 8,319
-5.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.23 R$6.21
$1.06 COP 3,764
16.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 R$7.45
$1.50 COP 5,355
-2.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 R$7.61
$1.38 COP 4,906
8.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.25 R$6.33
$1.15 COP 4,097
8.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 R$5.81
$1.16 COP 4,141
-0.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 R$3.19
$0.89 COP 3,170
-29.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 R$3.13
$0.84 COP 2,986
-26.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.95 R$9.86
$2.28 COP 8,116
-14.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.85 R$29.60
$10.64 COP 37.9K
-45.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 R$6.34
$1.20 COP 4,268
4.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 R$10.73
$2.47 COP 8,793
-14.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Teresopolis
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 R$4.31
$0.86 COP 3,045
-1.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.89 R$121
$41.40 COP 147.3K
-42.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.87 R$4.42
$1.47 COP 5,245
-40.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.67 R$3.39
$1.96 COP 6,984
-65.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.11 R$10.67
$7.74 COP 27.5K
-72.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 R$5.42
$0.95 COP 3,397
12.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K R$105.8K
$18.1K COP 64.5M
15.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K R$137.9K
$26.5K COP 94.2M
2.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Teresopolis
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$27.30 R$138
$82.3 COP 292.7K
-66.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.23 R$61.9
$9.50 COP 33.8K
28.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.96 R$85.9
$24.23 COP 86.2K
-30.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Teresopolis
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.31 R$123
$25.89 COP 92.1K
-6.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.94 R$90.9
$19.00 COP 67.6K
-5.58%
Cinema Ticket
$5.54 R$28.07
$3.93 COP 14.0K
40.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Teresopolis
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$265 R$1,342
$309 COP 1.1M
-14.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.7K R$59.4K
$5,965 COP 21.2M
96.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Teresopolis
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.55 R$109
$58.7 COP 208.7K
-63.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.50 R$134
$32.35 COP 115.1K
-18.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.0 R$385
$103 COP 365.1K
-25.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.9 R$314
$108 COP 385.8K
-42.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Teresopolis
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$321 R$1,627
$476 COP 1.7M
-32.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$216 R$1,092
$379 COP 1.3M
-43.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$346 R$1,754
$838 COP 3.0M
-58.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$422 R$2,138
$724 COP 2.6M
-41.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,214 R$6,148
$2,791 COP 9.9M
-56.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,211 COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Teresopolis
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 R$2,499
$512 COP 1.8M
-3.56%
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 Teresopolis: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $321 in Teresopolis 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 4% 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 $26.00 in Teresopolis versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $178 vs $188 – making Teresopolis 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
Teresopolis vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Teresopolis?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 48%, 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 $1,029 per month in Teresopolis 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 Teresopolis, 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 Teresopolis or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Teresopolis 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 Teresopolis vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $686 in Teresopolis and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Teresopolis or Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Teresopolis, where all-in costs run around $686, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Teresopolis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Teresopolis or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Teresopolis – 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 Teresopolis. 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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