Cost of Living Comparison Between Tesanj and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Tesanj and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $954 per month in Tesanj vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,390 per month in Tesanj vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,825 per month in Tesanj vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Tesanj is about 42% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Tesanj sits 31% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tesanj
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.46 BAM 5.81
$8.04 COP 24.9K
-56.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.42 BAM 27.59
$48.29 COP 149.7K
-66.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.94 BAM 4.93
$9.42 COP 29.2K
-68.79%
Cappuccino
$0.91 BAM 1.53
$2.94 COP 9,105
-69.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 BAM 2.42
$1.86 COP 5,776
-22.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 BAM 1.44
$1.46 COP 4,511
-41.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.07 BAM 3.48
$3.21 COP 9,953
-35.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 BAM 3.03
$5.71 COP 17.7K
-68.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tesanj
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 BAM 1.36
$1.44 COP 4,460
-43.75%
White Bread (500g)
$0.86 BAM 1.44
$2.40 COP 7,442
-64.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.31 BAM 3.88
$1.70 COP 5,265
35.88%
Eggs
$3.06 BAM 5.13
$2.89 COP 8,960
5.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.88 BAM 16.60
$10.06 COP 31.2K
-1.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.27 BAM 12.22
$9.97 COP 30.9K
-27.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.43 BAM 22.55
$14.20 COP 44.0K
-5.42%
Apples (1kg)
$1.25 BAM 2.10
$3.98 COP 12.3K
-68.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 BAM 3.04
$1.58 COP 4,913
14.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 BAM 3.10
$2.15 COP 6,671
-13.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.74 BAM 2.93
$2.30 COP 7,129
-24.35%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 BAM 1.33
$2.00 COP 6,213
-60.50%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 BAM 1.15
$1.51 COP 4,679
-54.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 BAM 1.59
$1.20 COP 3,727
-20.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 BAM 1.70
$1.28 COP 3,974
-21.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00 BAM 6.72
$3.84 COP 11.9K
4.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.02 BAM 13.48
$14.01 COP 43.4K
-42.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 BAM 2.19
$1.71 COP 5,294
-23.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 BAM 3.90
$2.74 COP 8,500
-15.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Tesanj
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.31 BAM 2.20
$1.25 COP 3,861
4.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$77.9 COP 241.5K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 BAM 1.97
$1.31 COP 4,045
-10.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 BAM 0.96
$2.17 COP 6,728
-73.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.75 BAM 18.06
$8.29 COP 25.7K
29.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 BAM 2.57
$1.36 COP 4,202
12.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.6K BAM 53.1K
$27.5K COP 85.2M
15.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K BAM 37.6K
$36.5K COP 113.2M
-38.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tesanj
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 BAM 209
$169 COP 523.0K
-26.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.92 BAM 31.78
$13.57 COP 42.1K
39.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.33 BAM 47.59
$28.32 COP 87.8K
0.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tesanj
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.48 BAM 57.9
$45.71 COP 141.7K
-24.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.09 BAM 50.6
$17.22 COP 53.4K
74.74%
Cinema Ticket
$3.01 BAM 5.05
$6.65 COP 20.6K
-54.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tesanj
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$152 BAM 256
$803 COP 2.5M
-81.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,994 BAM 6,709
$9,190 COP 28.5M
-56.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tesanj
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$116 BAM 195
$87.4 COP 270.8K
32.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.80 BAM 58.5
$59.4 COP 184.0K
-41.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.6 BAM 164
$139 COP 430.5K
-29.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 BAM 197
$102 COP 316.3K
14.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tesanj
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$349 BAM 586
$1,071 COP 3.3M
-67.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$262 BAM 441
$653 COP 2.0M
-59.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$528 BAM 888
$1,925 COP 6.0M
-72.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$380 BAM 638
$1,048 COP 3.2M
-63.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,544 BAM 4,272
$4,123 COP 12.8M
-38.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,825 BAM 3,065
$1,697 COP 5.3M
7.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tesanj
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$715 BAM 1,201
$655 COP 2.0M
9.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.3
10.94
-60.69%

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

Last update for Tesanj: September 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $349 in Tesanj versus $1,071 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 9% 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 $16.00 in Tesanj versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $225 vs $300 – making Tesanj 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
Tesanj vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Tesanj?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 72%, 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 $1,431 per month in Tesanj and $2,462 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 in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Tesanj and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Tesanj and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 34% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tesanj or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tesanj, where all-in costs run around $954, than in Medellin at $1,641. 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.

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