Cost of Living Comparison Between Tunja and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Tunja and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $711 per month in Tunja vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,062 per month in Tunja vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,413 per month in Tunja vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Tunja is about 30% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Tunja and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Tunja 47% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.68 COP 9,353

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-54.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.38 COP 50.2K

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-56.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.71 COP 23.4K

$7.23 COP 25.2K

-7.19%

Cappuccino

$1.07 COP 3,731

$1.63 COP 5,687

-34.36%

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

$0.74 COP 2,588

$1.09 COP 3,821

-32.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 COP 1,937

$0.73 COP 2,548

-23.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 COP 4,151

$1.74 COP 6,065

-31.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 COP 7,356

$3.23 COP 11.3K

-34.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 COP 4,239

$1.05 COP 3,662

15.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 COP 3,698

$1.29 COP 4,515

-17.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 COP 4,185

$1.32 COP 4,617

-9.09%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 7,595

$2.27 COP 7,927

-3.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.24 COP 14.8K

$4.35 COP 15.2K

-2.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.67 COP 19.8K

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-3.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.24 COP 25.3K

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-15.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.48 COP 8,667

$2.25 COP 7,844

10.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 COP 4,124

$1.07 COP 3,733

10.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 COP 2,959

$1.52 COP 5,322

-44.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.92 COP 3,219

$1.42 COP 4,964

-35.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 COP 4,154

$1.17 COP 4,084

1.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 COP 3,292

$1.17 COP 4,077

-19.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 COP 3,312

$0.89 COP 3,096

6.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 COP 2,586

$0.90 COP 3,146

-17.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.66 COP 5,797

$2.25 COP 7,837

-26.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.41 COP 29.4K

$11.04 COP 38.5K

-23.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 COP 2,889

$1.14 COP 3,977

-27.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 COP 5,447

$2.38 COP 8,301

-34.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 COP 1,768

$0.84 COP 2,916

-39.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.66 COP 2,312

$1.41 COP 4,912

-53.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 COP 5,421

$1.90 COP 6,634

-18.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-23.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 COP 3,230

$1.01 COP 3,509

-7.92%

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

$19.2K COP 66.9M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

8.99%

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

$28.0K COP 97.6M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

5.52%

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

$76.1 COP 265.7K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-9.03%

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

$8.86 COP 30.9K

$9.45 COP 33.0K

-6.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.41 COP 71.2K

$24.11 COP 84.1K

-15.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.80 COP 58.6K

$25.31 COP 88.3K

-33.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$3.81 COP 13.3K

$4.10 COP 14.3K

-7.07%

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

$242 COP 844.3K

$312 COP 1.1M

-22.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,419 COP 8.4M

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-59.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 COP 222.2K

$58.0 COP 202.6K

9.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.19 COP 115.8K

$32.56 COP 113.6K

1.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 COP 292.3K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-15.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.53 COP 131.0K

$109 COP 378.8K

-65.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 COP 998.0K

$482 COP 1.7M

-40.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$230 COP 801.8K

$379 COP 1.3M

-39.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$521 COP 1.8M

$837 COP 2.9M

-37.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$421 COP 1.5M

$723 COP 2.5M

-41.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

15.25

13.43

13.55%

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

Last update for Tunja: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $286 in Tunja versus $482 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Tunja versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $169 vs $190 – making Tunja 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

Tunja vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 43%, 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 $1,066 per month in Tunja and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tunja, 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 $14.00 in Tunja 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 12% 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 Tunja, where all-in costs run around $711, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Tunja it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tunja – 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 Tunja. 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.