🙂A single person spends $1,030 per month in Treinta y Tres vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,600 per month in Treinta y Tres vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,170 per month in Treinta y Tres vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Treinta y Tres is about 39% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Treinta y Tres sits 25% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Treinta y Tres
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.62UYU 547
$8.02COP 25.5K
69.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.24UYU 1,737
$47.87COP 152.0K
-9.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.80UYU 354
$9.89COP 31.4K
-11.02%
Cappuccino
$2.79UYU 112
$3.13COP 9,941
-10.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68UYU 108
$1.91COP 6,061
40.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00UYU 80.2
$1.51COP 4,796
32.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23UYU 89.4
$3.12COP 9,921
-28.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90UYU 116
$5.75COP 18.3K
-49.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Treinta y Tres
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07UYU 42.92
$1.44COP 4,590
-25.69%
White Bread(500g)
$2.21UYU 88.6
$2.49COP 7,898
-11.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75UYU 70.5
$1.77COP 5,634
-1.13%
Eggs
$3.80UYU 153
$2.96COP 9,400
28.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.35UYU 496
$10.07COP 32.0K
22.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.93UYU 359
$10.12COP 32.1K
-11.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.64UYU 307
$14.30COP 45.4K
-46.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.18UYU 87.4
$4.14COP 13.1K
-47.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.23UYU 49.27
$1.61COP 5,109
-23.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52UYU 61.1
$2.25COP 7,132
-32.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33UYU 93.6
$2.25COP 7,154
3.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.21UYU 48.74
$2.04COP 6,489
-40.69%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26UYU 90.9
$1.54COP 4,876
46.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10UYU 44.13
$1.17COP 3,716
-5.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92UYU 77.0
$1.31COP 4,150
46.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.37UYU 216
$3.90COP 12.4K
37.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.45UYU 219
$14.01COP 44.5K
-61.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22UYU 89.2
$1.74COP 5,536
27.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75UYU 111
$2.87COP 9,116
-4.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Treinta y Tres
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.22COP 3,860
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$80.5COP 255.6K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.27UYU 51.2
$1.31COP 4,157
-3.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43UYU 17.33
$2.19COP 6,947
-80.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.54UYU 423
$8.71COP 27.7K
21.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.96UYU 78.5
$1.37COP 4,336
43.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8KUYU 795.6K
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
-28.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.8KUYU 1.5M
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
5.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Treinta y Tres
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$113UYU 4,532
$177COP 563.1K
-36.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.31UYU 495
$13.88COP 44.1K
-11.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.55UYU 1,468
$29.72COP 94.4K
22.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Treinta y Tres
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.28UYU 1,216
$44.88COP 142.6K
-32.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12COP 54.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.03UYU 242
$6.65COP 21.1K
-9.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Treinta y Tres
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$176UYU 7,073
$813COP 2.6M
-78.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,718UYU 109.2K
$9,187COP 29.2M
-70.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Treinta y Tres
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.6UYU 2,474
$89.5COP 284.3K
-31.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.92UYU 800
$59.0COP 187.3K
-66.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.2UYU 3,943
$138COP 439.0K
-28.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111UYU 4,448
$102COP 324.4K
8.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Treinta y Tres
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$442UYU 17.7K
$1,062COP 3.4M
-58.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$245UYU 9,823
$663COP 2.1M
-63.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$624UYU 25.1K
$1,888COP 6.0M
-66.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379UYU 15.2K
$1,027COP 3.3M
-63.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$801UYU 32.2K
$4,183COP 13.3M
-80.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,675COP 5.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Treinta y Tres
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$754UYU 30.3K
$678COP 2.2M
11.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
10.94
-63.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Treinta y Tres: September 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $442 in Treinta y Tres versus $1,062 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 11% higher in Treinta y Tres, 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 $43.00 in Treinta y Tres versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $259 vs $305 – making Treinta y Tres 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
Treinta y Tres vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Treinta y Tres?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 63%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,544 per month in Treinta y Tres and $2,521 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 Treinta y Tres, 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 Treinta y Tres or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Treinta y Tres 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 Treinta y Tres and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 18% 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 $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Treinta y Tres or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Treinta y Tres, where all-in costs run around $1,030, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Treinta y Tres it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Treinta y Tres or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Treinta y Tres – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Treinta y Tres 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 Treinta y Tres. 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.
Treinta y Tres vs other spots: cost of living compared