Cost of Living Comparison Between Tripoli and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Tripoli and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $873 per month in Tripoli vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,352 per month in Tripoli vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,831 per month in Tripoli vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Tripoli is about 15% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Tripoli and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Tripoli 35% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tripoli
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.52 LBP 405.0K
$5.92 COP 21.4K
-23.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.41 LBP 3.3M
$32.75 COP 118.2K
14.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.81 LBP 699.0K
$7.20 COP 26.0K
8.47%
Cappuccino
$2.45 LBP 219.7K
$1.70 COP 6,140
44.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 LBP 137.4K
$1.10 COP 3,966
40.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 LBP 78.4K
$0.72 COP 2,605
22.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 LBP 312.2K
$1.67 COP 6,022
108.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.07 LBP 453.9K
$3.10 COP 11.2K
63.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tripoli
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 LBP 115.2K
$1.06 COP 3,809
21.70%
White Bread (500g)
$0.32 LBP 28.6K
$1.25 COP 4,497
-74.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 LBP 88.6K
$1.39 COP 5,022
-28.78%
Eggs
$1.58 LBP 141.5K
$2.26 COP 8,168
-30.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.56 LBP 497.8K
$4.33 COP 15.6K
28.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.82 LBP 521.2K
$5.84 COP 21.1K
-0.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.94 LBP 889.7K
$8.83 COP 31.9K
12.57%
Apples (1kg)
$1.02 LBP 91.0K
$2.24 COP 8,099
-54.46%
Banana (1kg)
$0.53 LBP 47.0K
$1.08 COP 3,882
-50.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.45 LBP 40.2K
$1.53 COP 5,522
-70.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.98 LBP 87.3K
$1.37 COP 4,950
-28.47%
Potato (1kg)
$0.55 LBP 49.6K
$1.13 COP 4,078
-51.33%
Onion (1kg)
$0.75 LBP 66.7K
$1.12 COP 4,036
-33.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.29 LBP 25.8K
$0.85 COP 3,057
-65.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42 LBP 37.5K
$0.91 COP 3,281
-53.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.46 LBP 220.0K
$2.33 COP 8,414
5.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.04 LBP 630.0K
$11.13 COP 40.2K
-36.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 LBP 109.5K
$1.19 COP 4,309
2.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 LBP 190.0K
$2.37 COP 8,553
-10.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Tripoli
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.98 LBP 87.6K
$0.79 COP 2,838
24.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.13 COP 148.5K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.87 LBP 435.9K
$1.44 COP 5,184
238.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.22 LBP 109.1K
$1.91 COP 6,901
-36.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.06 LBP 1.8M
$8.02 COP 28.9K
150.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 LBP 78.6K
$0.94 COP 3,385
-6.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K LBP 2.0B
$17.9K COP 64.7M
27.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K LBP 1.8B
$26.8K COP 96.7M
-24.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tripoli
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$213 LBP 19.1M
$84.0 COP 303.1K
153.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.87 LBP 2.0M
$9.60 COP 34.7K
127.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.71 LBP 3.4M
$24.16 COP 87.2K
56.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tripoli
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.35 LBP 1.7M
$25.88 COP 93.4K
-25.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.30 LBP 1.1M
$19.04 COP 68.7K
-35.40%
Cinema Ticket
$6.37 LBP 570.2K
$3.92 COP 14.1K
62.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tripoli
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$135 LBP 12.1M
$306 COP 1.1M
-55.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,965 LBP 175.9M
$5,919 COP 21.4M
-66.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tripoli
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.59 LBP 3.1M
$57.9 COP 209.1K
-40.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.34 LBP 4.1M
$31.82 COP 114.9K
42.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 LBP 7.6M
$99.9 COP 360.6K
-15.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.7 LBP 6.8M
$107 COP 386.8K
-29.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tripoli
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$252 LBP 22.6M
$487 COP 1.8M
-48.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$149 LBP 13.4M
$368 COP 1.3M
-59.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$776 LBP 69.5M
$826 COP 3.0M
-6.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$384 LBP 34.3M
$716 COP 2.6M
-46.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,111 LBP 99.4M
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-62.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$836 LBP 74.8M
$1,407 COP 5.1M
-40.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tripoli
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$412 LBP 36.9M
$546 COP 2.0M
-24.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10
13.43
-25.54%

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

Last update for Tripoli: April 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $252 in Tripoli versus $487 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 32% 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 $37.00 in Tripoli versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $151 in Tripoli vs $190 in Medellin – so Tripoli wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Tripoli vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Tripoli?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 18%, 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 $1,310 per month in Tripoli and $1,550 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 Tripoli, 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 Tripoli or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Tripoli and $33.00 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 Tripoli and Medellin?
Groceries cost about 26% 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 Tripoli or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tripoli, where all-in costs run around $873, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Tripoli it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tripoli or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tripoli – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tripoli. 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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