🙂A single person spends $872 per month in Tesanj vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,322 per month in Tesanj vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,772 per month in Tesanj vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Tesanj is about 14% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tesanj and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Tesanj35% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tesanj
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.51BAM 5.89
$5.99COP 21.4K
-41.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.66BAM 27.99
$32.86COP 117.4K
-49.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.00BAM 5.04
$7.09COP 25.3K
-57.69%
Cappuccino
$0.85BAM 1.43
$1.71COP 6,115
-50.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48BAM 2.49
$1.10COP 3,924
34.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90BAM 1.50
$0.78COP 2,781
15.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.09BAM 3.51
$1.68COP 5,997
24.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81BAM 3.05
$3.07COP 11.0K
-41.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tesanj
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.85BAM 1.43
$1.09COP 3,906
-22.02%
White Bread(500g)
$0.90BAM 1.51
$1.26COP 4,508
-28.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.40BAM 4.03
$1.38COP 4,922
73.91%
Eggs
$2.78BAM 4.67
$2.19COP 7,827
26.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.76BAM 16.40
$4.40COP 15.7K
121.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.30BAM 12.27
$5.63COP 20.1K
29.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.16BAM 22.10
$8.89COP 31.8K
48.03%
Apples(1kg)
$1.25BAM 2.09
$2.34COP 8,349
-46.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69BAM 2.85
$1.06COP 3,777
59.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92BAM 3.22
$1.50COP 5,374
28.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.66BAM 2.78
$1.38COP 4,924
20.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.80BAM 1.34
$1.15COP 4,111
-30.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.70BAM 1.18
$1.16COP 4,155
-39.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.93BAM 1.56
$0.89COP 3,182
4.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96BAM 1.62
$0.84COP 2,997
14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.49BAM 5.86
$2.28COP 8,145
53.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.49BAM 14.26
$10.64COP 38.0K
-20.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25BAM 2.11
$1.20COP 4,284
4.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06BAM 3.46
$2.47COP 8,824
-16.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Tesanj
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.85BAM 3.11
$0.86COP 3,056
115.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.58BAM 59.8
$41.40COP 147.9K
-14.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.16BAM 1.95
$1.47COP 5,264
-21.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.52BAM 0.88
$1.96COP 7,009
-73.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.67BAM 17.93
$7.74COP 27.6K
37.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44BAM 2.42
$0.95COP 3,409
51.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4KBAM 39.3K
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
28.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7KBAM 44.9K
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
0.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tesanj
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124BAM 209
$82.3COP 293.7K
51.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.29BAM 32.41
$9.50COP 33.9K
103.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.67BAM 48.17
$24.23COP 86.5K
18.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tesanj
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.51BAM 49.58
$25.89COP 92.4K
13.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.80BAM 18.15
$19.00COP 67.9K
-43.16%
Cinema Ticket
$2.94BAM 4.94
$3.93COP 14.0K
-25.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tesanj
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$150BAM 251
$309COP 1.1M
-51.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,312BAM 5,565
$5,965COP 21.3M
-44.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tesanj
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.8BAM 121
$58.7COP 209.5K
22.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.38BAM 59.5
$32.35COP 115.5K
9.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9BAM 168
$103COP 366.4K
-2.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120BAM 201
$108COP 387.2K
10.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tesanj
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$262BAM 440
$476COP 1.7M
-45.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$168BAM 283
$379COP 1.4M
-55.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$370BAM 621
$838COP 3.0M
-55.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$313BAM 526
$724COP 2.6M
-56.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,603BAM 4,373
$2,791COP 10.0M
-6.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,839BAM 3,090
$1,211COP 4.3M
51.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tesanj
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$715BAM 1,201
$512COP 1.8M
39.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.14
13.43
-69.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tesanj: May 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $262 in Tesanj 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 40% higher in Tesanj, 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 $17.00 in Tesanj versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $222 in Tesanj vs $188 in Medellin – so Medellin 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
Tesanj vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Tesanj?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 16%, 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 $1,308 per month in Tesanj 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 Tesanj, 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 Tesanj or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Tesanj 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 Tesanj vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $872 in Tesanj and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tesanj or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tesanj, where all-in costs run around $872, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Tesanj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tesanj or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tesanj – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tesanj 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 Tesanj. 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.