🙂A single person spends $757 per month in Trancoso vs $1,030 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,239 per month in Trancoso vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,721 per month in Trancoso vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Trancoso is about 27% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Trancoso and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Trancoso44% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trancoso
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.34R$26.56
$5.92COP 21.2K
-9.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.16R$140
$33.17COP 118.7K
-15.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.43R$31.97
$7.25COP 25.9K
-11.31%
Cappuccino
$1.72R$8.57
$1.71COP 6,137
0.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12R$5.58
$1.09COP 3,915
2.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66R$3.27
$0.77COP 2,743
-14.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81R$9.00
$1.75COP 6,254
3.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63R$13.05
$3.18COP 11.4K
-17.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trancoso
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.96R$4.75
$1.06COP 3,792
-9.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51R$7.48
$1.30COP 4,657
16.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13R$5.61
$1.38COP 4,926
-18.12%
Eggs
$1.93R$9.62
$2.21COP 7,908
-12.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.96R$39.55
$4.52COP 16.2K
76.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.53R$17.57
$5.80COP 20.7K
-39.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.49R$37.25
$8.97COP 32.1K
-16.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.15R$10.71
$2.29COP 8,182
-6.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.25R$6.19
$1.06COP 3,791
17.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.15R$5.70
$1.51COP 5,411
-23.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.45R$7.20
$1.36COP 4,869
6.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.20R$5.97
$1.16COP 4,146
3.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06R$5.26
$1.17COP 4,174
-9.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66R$3.26
$0.83COP 2,960
-20.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65R$3.24
$0.85COP 3,043
-23.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.12R$10.53
$2.35COP 8,423
-9.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.53R$37.43
$11.09COP 39.7K
-32.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23R$6.10
$1.15COP 4,133
6.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06R$10.23
$2.47COP 8,853
-16.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Trancoso
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93R$4.64
$0.79COP 2,827
17.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.15R$190
$41.85COP 149.8K
-8.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.09R$5.43
$1.44COP 5,140
-24.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70R$3.49
$1.90COP 6,793
-63.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.29R$31.26
$7.70COP 27.6K
-18.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08R$5.39
$1.03COP 3,680
4.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0KR$104.5K
$17.7KCOP 63.3M
18.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2KR$139.9K
$27.0KCOP 96.7M
4.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trancoso
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.5R$296
$81.4COP 291.4K
-26.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.34R$66.3
$9.42COP 33.7K
41.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.67R$92.8
$23.77COP 85.1K
-21.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trancoso
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.95R$114
$25.86COP 92.6K
-11.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.31R$106
$19.34COP 69.2K
10.19%
Cinema Ticket
$6.17R$30.67
$4.05COP 14.5K
52.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trancoso
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$282R$1,400
$312COP 1.1M
-9.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,589R$32.7K
$6,067COP 21.7M
8.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trancoso
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.63R$232
$58.9COP 210.7K
-20.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.38R$211
$32.82COP 117.5K
29.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.2R$374
$100COP 359.6K
-25.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.4R$315
$106COP 380.3K
-40.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trancoso
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$320R$1,592
$490COP 1.8M
-34.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$212R$1,053
$371COP 1.3M
-42.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$576R$2,864
$838COP 3.0M
-31.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437R$2,172
$715COP 2.6M
-38.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,466R$7,288
$2,952COP 10.6M
-50.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,038R$5,161
$1,394COP 5.0M
-25.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trancoso
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$532COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.92
13.43
-18.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Trancoso: April 20, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $320 in Trancoso versus $490 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 $28 in Trancoso versus $33 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $172 vs $190 – making Trancoso 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
Trancoso vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Trancoso?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 36%, 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 $1,135 per month in Trancoso and $1,544 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 Trancoso, 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 Trancoso or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Trancoso 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 Trancoso vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $757 in Trancoso and $1,030 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 Trancoso or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Trancoso, where all-in costs run around $757, than in Medellin at $1,030. In Trancoso it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Trancoso or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Trancoso – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Trancoso 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 Trancoso. 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.