Cost of Living Comparison Between Treinta y Tres and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Treinta y Tres and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$13.62 UYU 547
$8.02 COP 25.5K
69.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.24 UYU 1,737
$47.87 COP 152.0K
-9.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.80 UYU 354
$9.89 COP 31.4K
-11.02%
Cappuccino
$2.79 UYU 112
$3.13 COP 9,941
-10.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 UYU 108
$1.91 COP 6,061
40.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 UYU 80.2
$1.51 COP 4,796
32.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 UYU 89.4
$3.12 COP 9,921
-28.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 UYU 116
$5.75 COP 18.3K
-49.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Treinta y Tres
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 UYU 42.92
$1.44 COP 4,590
-25.69%
White Bread (500g)
$2.21 UYU 88.6
$2.49 COP 7,898
-11.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 UYU 70.5
$1.77 COP 5,634
-1.13%
Eggs
$3.80 UYU 153
$2.96 COP 9,400
28.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.35 UYU 496
$10.07 COP 32.0K
22.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.93 UYU 359
$10.12 COP 32.1K
-11.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.64 UYU 307
$14.30 COP 45.4K
-46.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.18 UYU 87.4
$4.14 COP 13.1K
-47.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.23 UYU 49.27
$1.61 COP 5,109
-23.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 UYU 61.1
$2.25 COP 7,132
-32.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 UYU 93.6
$2.25 COP 7,154
3.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.21 UYU 48.74
$2.04 COP 6,489
-40.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 UYU 90.9
$1.54 COP 4,876
46.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 UYU 44.13
$1.17 COP 3,716
-5.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 UYU 77.0
$1.31 COP 4,150
46.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.37 UYU 216
$3.90 COP 12.4K
37.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.45 UYU 219
$14.01 COP 44.5K
-61.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 UYU 89.2
$1.74 COP 5,536
27.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 UYU 111
$2.87 COP 9,116
-4.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Treinta y Tres
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.22 COP 3,860
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$80.5 COP 255.6K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 UYU 51.2
$1.31 COP 4,157
-3.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 UYU 17.33
$2.19 COP 6,947
-80.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.54 UYU 423
$8.71 COP 27.7K
21.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.96 UYU 78.5
$1.37 COP 4,336
43.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K UYU 795.6K
$27.8K COP 88.4M
-28.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.8K UYU 1.5M
$35.8K COP 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)
$113 UYU 4,532
$177 COP 563.1K
-36.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.31 UYU 495
$13.88 COP 44.1K
-11.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.55 UYU 1,468
$29.72 COP 94.4K
22.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Treinta y Tres
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.28 UYU 1,216
$44.88 COP 142.6K
-32.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12 COP 54.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.03 UYU 242
$6.65 COP 21.1K
-9.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Treinta y Tres
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$176 UYU 7,073
$813 COP 2.6M
-78.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,718 UYU 109.2K
$9,187 COP 29.2M
-70.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Treinta y Tres
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.6 UYU 2,474
$89.5 COP 284.3K
-31.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.92 UYU 800
$59.0 COP 187.3K
-66.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.2 UYU 3,943
$138 COP 439.0K
-28.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 UYU 4,448
$102 COP 324.4K
8.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Treinta y Tres
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$442 UYU 17.7K
$1,062 COP 3.4M
-58.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$245 UYU 9,823
$663 COP 2.1M
-63.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$624 UYU 25.1K
$1,888 COP 6.0M
-66.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 UYU 15.2K
$1,027 COP 3.3M
-63.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$801 UYU 32.2K
$4,183 COP 13.3M
-80.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,675 COP 5.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Treinta y Tres
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$754 UYU 30.3K
$678 COP 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.

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