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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $847 per month in Tripoli vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,334 per month in Tripoli vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,821 per month in Tripoli vs $2,143 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 36% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.62 LBP 413.4K

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-21.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.54 LBP 3.4M

$32.96 COP 103.8K

13.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.17 LBP 730.8K

$7.43 COP 23.4K

9.96%

Cappuccino

$2.52 LBP 225.9K

$1.65 COP 5,207

52.73%

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

$1.52 LBP 135.8K

$1.10 COP 3,468

38.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 LBP 77.1K

$0.78 COP 2,458

10.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.52 LBP 314.7K

$1.72 COP 5,412

104.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.89 LBP 437.2K

$3.18 COP 10.0K

53.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 LBP 113.6K

$1.10 COP 3,474

15.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.31 LBP 28.1K

$1.26 COP 3,962

-75.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 LBP 81.4K

$1.38 COP 4,349

-34.06%

Eggs

$1.63 LBP 145.8K

$2.18 COP 6,858

-25.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.76 LBP 515.8K

$4.49 COP 14.1K

28.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.98 LBP 535.5K

$5.79 COP 18.2K

3.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.92 LBP 887.9K

$8.97 COP 28.2K

10.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 LBP 90.6K

$2.32 COP 7,308

-56.47%

Banana (1kg)

$0.53 LBP 47.2K

$1.06 COP 3,352

-50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.49 LBP 43.5K

$1.52 COP 4,774

-67.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 LBP 80.2K

$1.36 COP 4,270

-33.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 LBP 49.5K

$1.13 COP 3,552

-51.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 LBP 71.7K

$1.17 COP 3,689

-31.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 LBP 28.0K

$0.90 COP 2,838

-65.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 LBP 36.7K

$0.90 COP 2,823

-54.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.49 LBP 222.7K

$2.23 COP 7,034

11.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.13 LBP 907.0K

$12.12 COP 38.2K

-16.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 LBP 110.8K

$1.19 COP 3,743

4.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 LBP 191.4K

$2.48 COP 7,815

-13.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 LBP 87.6K

$0.85 COP 2,687

15.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.97 LBP 445.1K

$1.42 COP 4,459

250.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 LBP 109.1K

$1.95 COP 6,141

-37.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.68 LBP 1.8M

$7.89 COP 24.8K

149.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 LBP 86.1K

$0.99 COP 3,118

-3.03%

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

$22.7K LBP 2.0B

$17.6K COP 55.4M

28.68%

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

$20.4K LBP 1.8B

$26.8K COP 84.4M

-23.88%

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

$213 LBP 19.1M

$83.0 COP 261.4K

156.94%

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

$21.92 LBP 2.0M

$9.70 COP 30.5K

125.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.61 LBP 3.4M

$23.52 COP 74.1K

59.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.80 LBP 1.8M

$25.26 COP 79.5K

-21.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.43 LBP 1.1M

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-34.92%

Cinema Ticket

$6.39 LBP 571.8K

$3.95 COP 12.4K

61.77%

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

$136 LBP 12.1M

$316 COP 994.2K

-57.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,035 LBP 182.1M

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-65.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.47 LBP 3.1M

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-42.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.11 LBP 4.0M

$31.82 COP 100.2K

41.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.0 LBP 7.5M

$102 COP 320.1K

-17.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.3 LBP 6.7M

$107 COP 338.3K

-29.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 LBP 22.0M

$475 COP 1.5M

-48.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 LBP 13.5M

$374 COP 1.2M

-59.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 LBP 67.3M

$849 COP 2.7M

-11.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 LBP 33.8M

$719 COP 2.3M

-47.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,168 LBP 104.5M

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-64.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$875 LBP 78.3M

$1,441 COP 4.5M

-39.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$447 LBP 40.0M

$624 COP 2.0M

-28.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-25.54%

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

Last update for Tripoli: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $246 in Tripoli versus $475 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 40% 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 $38.00 in Tripoli versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $158 in Tripoli vs $193 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

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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,271 per month in Tripoli and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tripoli and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tripoli, where all-in costs run around $847, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Tripoli it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.