Cost of Living Comparison Between Tula and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Tula and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $929 per month in Tula vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,436 per month in Tula vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,942 per month in Tula vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Tula is about 46% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tula sits 32% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.53 ₽824

$8.03 COP 25.2K

18.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.05 ₽3,033

$48.26 COP 151.7K

-27.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.10 ₽441

$9.77 COP 30.7K

-47.80%

Cappuccino

$2.30 ₽199

$2.91 COP 9,149

-20.96%

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

$1.79 ₽155

$1.94 COP 6,110

-7.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₽71.5

$1.52 COP 4,783

-45.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ₽185

$3.09 COP 9,721

-30.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ₽239

$5.74 COP 18.1K

-51.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 ₽101

$1.36 COP 4,287

-13.97%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 ₽52.1

$2.39 COP 7,505

-74.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 ₽138

$1.70 COP 5,346

-5.88%

Eggs

$1.82 ₽158

$2.87 COP 9,021

-36.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 ₽783

$9.94 COP 31.2K

-8.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.88 ₽422

$10.78 COP 33.9K

-54.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.39 ₽726

$14.73 COP 46.3K

-43.04%

Apples (1kg)

$1.48 ₽128

$4.09 COP 12.8K

-63.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 ₽151

$1.57 COP 4,940

11.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.25 ₽108

$2.13 COP 6,682

-41.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 ₽161

$2.21 COP 6,959

-15.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 ₽85.6

$2.05 COP 6,435

-51.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 ₽83.5

$1.50 COP 4,728

-36.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.11 ₽182

$1.19 COP 3,740

77.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₽41.76

$1.16 COP 3,640

-58.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 ₽199

$3.90 COP 12.2K

-41.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.18 ₽535

$14.44 COP 45.4K

-57.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ₽79.1

$1.58 COP 4,978

-42.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₽83.0

$2.83 COP 8,889

-66.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 ₽43.26

$1.17 COP 3,672

-57.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.14 ₽1,396

$77.7 COP 244.3K

-79.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 ₽131

$1.28 COP 4,038

17.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ₽57.9

$2.09 COP 6,576

-67.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.25 ₽368

$8.62 COP 27.1K

-50.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 ₽68.0

$1.30 COP 4,080

-39.23%

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

$21.2K ₽1.8M

$27.7K COP 86.9M

-23.28%

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

$27.6K ₽2.4M

$35.5K COP 111.6M

-22.29%

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

$119 ₽10.3K

$176 COP 553.4K

-32.22%

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

$5.14 ₽445

$13.37 COP 42.0K

-61.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.33 ₽634

$29.89 COP 94.0K

-75.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.05 ₽1,303

$44.76 COP 140.7K

-66.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.75 ₽757

$17.06 COP 53.6K

-48.71%

Cinema Ticket

$4.50 ₽390

$6.20 COP 19.5K

-27.42%

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

$793 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,019 COP 28.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.45 ₽3,500

$85.6 COP 269.1K

-52.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.5 COP 183.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.7 ₽6,633

$136 COP 428.4K

-43.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 ₽14.8K

$103 COP 324.1K

65.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$352 ₽30.5K

$1,060 COP 3.3M

-66.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ₽24.9K

$680 COP 2.1M

-57.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$647 ₽56.0K

$2,012 COP 6.3M

-67.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$527 ₽45.6K

$1,169 COP 3.7M

-54.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,723 ₽149.1K

$4,111 COP 12.9M

-58.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,039 ₽89.9K

$1,701 COP 5.3M

-38.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$862 ₽74.6K

$665 COP 2.1M

29.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.33

10.94

131.54%

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

Last update for Tula: August 29, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $352 in Tula versus $1,060 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 30% higher in Tula, 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 $35.00 in Tula versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $178 vs $303 – making Tula the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Tula vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 85%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,394 per month in Tula and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tula, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 382% less in Tula. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 70% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tula, where all-in costs run around $929, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Tula it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tula – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Tula. 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.