Cost of Living Comparison Between Toamasina and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Toamasina and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $471 per month in Toamasina vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $762 per month in Toamasina vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,053 per month in Toamasina vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Toamasina is about 71% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Toamasina sits 66% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.23 MGA 9,655

$8.04 COP 24.8K

-72.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.56 MGA 71.8K

$48.29 COP 148.6K

-65.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.56 MGA 19.7K

$9.42 COP 29.0K

-51.59%

Cappuccino

$1.17 MGA 5,090

$2.94 COP 9,040

-60.20%

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

$0.78 MGA 3,364

$1.86 COP 5,735

-58.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 MGA 2,412

$1.46 COP 4,479

-61.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 MGA 4,493

$3.21 COP 9,882

-67.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 MGA 5,915

$5.71 COP 17.6K

-76.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 MGA 4,419

$1.44 COP 4,428

-29.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 MGA 3,116

$2.40 COP 7,389

-70.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 MGA 4,189

$1.70 COP 5,228

-42.94%

Eggs

$1.96 MGA 8,503

$2.89 COP 8,896

-32.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.56 MGA 54.4K

$10.06 COP 30.9K

24.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.16 MGA 31.0K

$9.97 COP 30.7K

-28.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.44 MGA 23.6K

$14.20 COP 43.7K

-61.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.65 MGA 7,133

$3.98 COP 12.3K

-58.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 MGA 6,070

$1.58 COP 4,878

-11.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.67 MGA 7,241

$2.15 COP 6,624

-22.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 MGA 2,977

$2.30 COP 7,078

-70.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 MGA 2,846

$2.00 COP 6,169

-67.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 MGA 2,307

$1.51 COP 4,646

-64.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 MGA 1,582

$1.20 COP 3,701

-69.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MGA 2,080

$1.28 COP 3,946

-62.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.87 MGA 8,111

$3.84 COP 11.8K

-51.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 MGA 3,881

$1.71 COP 5,256

-47.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 MGA 4,912

$2.74 COP 8,440

-58.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 MGA 1,451

$1.25 COP 3,834

-73.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 COP 239.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,016

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.17 COP 6,680

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.29 COP 25.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 MGA 5,203

$1.36 COP 4,172

-11.76%

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

$27.5K COP 84.5M

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

$36.5K COP 112.4M

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

$169 COP 519.2K

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

$33.45 MGA 144.9K

$13.57 COP 41.8K

146.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.5 MGA 305.4K

$28.32 COP 87.2K

148.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.18 MGA 100.4K

$45.71 COP 140.7K

-49.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 COP 53.0K

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 MGA 30.8K

$6.65 COP 20.5K

6.77%

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

$803 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,190 COP 28.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.27 MGA 40.2K

$87.4 COP 268.8K

-89.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.11 MGA 30.8K

$59.4 COP 182.7K

-88.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.9 MGA 250.8K

$139 COP 427.5K

-58.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.47 MGA 171.0K

$102 COP 314.0K

-61.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$140 MGA 605.4K

$1,071 COP 3.3M

-86.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$57.3 MGA 248.2K

$653 COP 2.0M

-91.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$468 MGA 2.0M

$1,925 COP 5.9M

-75.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$140 MGA 608.0K

$1,048 COP 3.2M

-86.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 COP 12.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$139 MGA 603.2K

$655 COP 2.0M

-78.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Toamasina: September 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $140 in Toamasina 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 371% 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 $17.00 in Toamasina versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $163 vs $300 – making Toamasina 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

Toamasina vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 248%, 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 $706 per month in Toamasina and $2,462 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 85% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Toamasina and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Toamasina, where all-in costs run around $471, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Toamasina it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Toamasina. 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.