🙂A single person spends $505 per month in Tripoli vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $810 per month in Tripoli vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,114 per month in Tripoli vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Tripoli is about 51% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Tripoli and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Tripoli62% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tripoli
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.49LYD 28.62
$6.16COP 20.1K
-27.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.69LYD 119
$32.60COP 106.1K
-42.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.63LYD 23.13
$7.34COP 23.9K
-50.54%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.53LYD 3.37
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66LYD 4.22
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.48LYD 3.07
$1.72COP 5,599
-72.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45LYD 2.89
$1.05COP 3,420
-57.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.09LYD 0.60
$0.77COP 2,515
-88.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.69COP 5,487
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.17COP 10.3K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tripoli
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03LYD 6.58
$1.05COP 3,423
-1.90%
White Bread(500g)
$0.23LYD 1.47
$1.30COP 4,236
-82.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18LYD 7.49
$1.40COP 4,544
-15.71%
Eggs
$1.45LYD 9.24
$2.16COP 7,046
-32.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.81LYD 30.63
$4.39COP 14.3K
9.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.34LYD 21.27
$5.88COP 19.1K
-43.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.43LYD 66.5
$8.64COP 28.1K
20.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.19LYD 13.93
$2.28COP 7,425
-3.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.34LYD 8.55
$1.11COP 3,603
20.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.76LYD 4.82
$1.53COP 4,982
-50.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.52LYD 3.29
$1.35COP 4,410
-61.48%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69LYD 4.42
$1.13COP 3,674
-38.94%
Onion(1kg)
$0.53LYD 3.37
$1.13COP 3,692
-53.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.39LYD 2.47
$0.85COP 2,753
-54.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.20LYD 1.27
$0.91COP 2,975
-78.02%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.22LYD 7.74
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.66LYD 4.21
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65LYD 4.16
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.86LYD 11.86
$2.34COP 7,629
-20.51%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$12.37COP 40.3K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.20COP 3,909
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.49COP 8,104
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tripoli
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27LYD 1.71
$0.84COP 2,727
-67.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.56LYD 137
$40.57COP 132.1K
-46.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.95LYD 6.04
$1.42COP 4,623
-33.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85LYD 5.43
$1.92COP 6,235
-55.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.56LYD 29.05
$7.66COP 24.9K
-40.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.03LYD 0.20
$0.99COP 3,223
-96.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.7KLYD 87.2K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
-24.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.4KLYD 104.4K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-38.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tripoli
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$32.67LYD 208
$80.8COP 263.1K
-59.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.27LYD 52.7
$9.95COP 32.4K
-16.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.56LYD 144
$24.18COP 78.7K
-6.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tripoli
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.55LYD 176
$25.08COP 81.6K
9.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.74LYD 74.8
$19.15COP 62.3K
-38.69%
Cinema Ticket
$4.49LYD 28.62
$3.98COP 13.0K
12.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tripoli
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$52.4LYD 334
$305COP 993.4K
-82.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$932LYD 5,939
$6,059COP 19.7M
-84.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tripoli
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.40LYD 136
$58.1COP 189.2K
-63.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.81LYD 228
$32.20COP 104.8K
11.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$50.6LYD 323
$101COP 327.9K
-49.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.8LYD 355
$108COP 350.8K
-48.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tripoli
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$212LYD 1,350
$477COP 1.6M
-55.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$120LYD 764
$376COP 1.2M
-68.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$391LYD 2,488
$845COP 2.7M
-53.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$218LYD 1,386
$730COP 2.4M
-70.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,215COP 10.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,372COP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tripoli
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$243LYD 1,548
$617COP 2.0M
-60.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.5
13.43
30.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tripoli: July 11, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $212 in Tripoli versus $477 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 154% 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 $19.00 in Tripoli versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $117 vs $193 – making Tripoli 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
Tripoli vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Tripoli?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 104%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $758 per month in Tripoli and $1,546 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 in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Tripoli and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Tripoli and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $505 in Tripoli and $1,031 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 living in Tripoli or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tripoli, where all-in costs run around $505, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.