😐A single person spends $2,128 per month in Tervuren vs $1,687 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,069 per month in Tervuren vs $2,535 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,010 per month in Tervuren vs $3,383 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Tervuren costs about 26% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tervuren and Medellin sit above the global median – Tervuren by 55%, Medellin by 23%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tervuren
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.97€17.94
$7.89COP 24.2K
165.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.9€70.0
$44.53COP 136.5K
83.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.71€10.02
$9.29COP 28.5K
26.05%
Cappuccino
$4.33€3.71
$2.90COP 8,874
49.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15€2.70
$1.81COP 5,541
74.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$1.55COP 4,741
87.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.19€4.44
$3.25COP 9,962
59.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70€4.02
$5.88COP 18.0K
-20.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tervuren
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33€1.13
$1.38COP 4,230
-3.62%
White Bread(500g)
$2.92€2.50
$2.45COP 7,517
19.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.21€1.89
$1.51COP 4,617
46.36%
Eggs
$4.04€3.46
$2.78COP 8,516
45.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.75€10.05
$9.05COP 27.7K
29.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.04€11.16
$10.65COP 32.6K
22.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.28€16.49
$14.63COP 44.8K
31.78%
Apples(1kg)
$2.87€2.46
$3.97COP 12.2K
-27.71%
Banana(1kg)
$2.21€1.89
$1.38COP 4,219
60.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27€1.94
$2.30COP 7,056
-1.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36€2.02
$2.02COP 6,185
16.83%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.89
$2.09COP 6,390
5.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78€1.53
$1.63COP 4,996
9.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.38€1.18
$1.08COP 3,313
27.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96€0.82
$1.25COP 3,843
-23.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.38€11.44
$4.03COP 12.4K
232.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.72€6.60
$13.47COP 41.3K
-42.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$1.60COP 4,904
28.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87€1.60
$3.00COP 9,189
-37.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Tervuren
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.30€2.82
$1.18COP 3,611
179.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$58.7€50.2
$79.9COP 244.9K
-26.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.56€9.03
$1.61COP 4,920
555.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49€2.13
$2.13COP 6,533
16.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.90€22.16
$8.52COP 26.1K
203.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.79
$1.35COP 4,142
54.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K€30.8K
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
27.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K€29.5K
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
-3.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tervuren
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$220€188
$151COP 463.8K
45.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.83€16.11
$13.10COP 40.1K
43.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.7€47.67
$32.30COP 99.0K
72.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tervuren
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.35€32.81
$46.33COP 141.9K
-17.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.95€19.63
$17.26COP 52.9K
32.97%
Cinema Ticket
$14.97€12.81
$6.43COP 19.7K
132.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tervuren
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$575€492
$835COP 2.6M
-31.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.8K€14.4K
$8,887COP 27.2M
89.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tervuren
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€86.8
$89.3COP 273.7K
13.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.59€22.75
$55.3COP 169.5K
-51.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€94.7
$137COP 418.5K
-18.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149€127
$109COP 335.1K
35.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tervuren
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$961€822
$952COP 2.9M
0.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$832€711
$668COP 2.0M
24.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,372€1,174
$2,020COP 6.2M
-32.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,182€1,011
$1,148COP 3.5M
2.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,356€3,726
$3,696COP 11.3M
17.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,056€2,614
$1,586COP 4.9M
92.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tervuren
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$625COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.2
10.43
-69.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tervuren: August 17, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $961 in Tervuren versus $952 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 $82.0 in Tervuren versus $45.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $331 vs $297 – making Medellin 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
Tervuren vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Tervuren?
Yes – Tervuren is pricier by about 26%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $3,191 per month in Tervuren and $2,530 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 Medellin, 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 Tervuren or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Tervuren and $45.00 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 Tervuren and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,128 in Tervuren and $1,687 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Tervuren or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,687, than in Tervuren at $2,128. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tervuren it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tervuren or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tervuren or Medellin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tervuren makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.