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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,333 per month in Tunja vs $1,662 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,026 per month in Tunja vs $2,451 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,720 per month in Tunja vs $3,241 in Medellin, rent included.

Tunja is about 20% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Tunja sits 2% below the global median, while Medellin is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.93 COP 24.8K

$7.94 COP 24.9K

-0.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.53 COP 126.8K

$43.55 COP 136.2K

-6.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 COP 29.8K

$9.73 COP 30.5K

-2.16%

Cappuccino

$2.51 COP 7,866

$2.92 COP 9,129

-14.04%

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

$1.30 COP 4,082

$1.88 COP 5,891

-30.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 COP 2,529

$1.53 COP 4,793

-47.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.91 COP 5,972

$3.25 COP 10.2K

-41.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 COP 12.0K

$5.62 COP 17.6K

-31.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 COP 5,049

$1.30 COP 4,081

23.85%

White Bread (500g)

$2.34 COP 7,324

$2.32 COP 7,269

0.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 COP 5,098

$1.43 COP 4,485

13.99%

Eggs

$3.78 COP 11.8K

$2.82 COP 8,821

34.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.03 COP 22.0K

$8.94 COP 28.0K

-21.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.31 COP 22.9K

$10.74 COP 33.6K

-31.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 COP 33.8K

$14.45 COP 45.2K

-25.26%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 COP 10.6K

$3.97 COP 12.4K

-14.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 COP 5,354

$1.38 COP 4,323

23.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 COP 5,988

$2.26 COP 7,064

-15.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.79 COP 5,598

$2.10 COP 6,564

-14.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.41 COP 4,417

$2.09 COP 6,550

-32.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,237

$1.60 COP 5,009

-15.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.32 COP 4,142

$1.04 COP 3,252

26.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 COP 3,319

$1.28 COP 3,989

-17.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 COP 13.9K

$3.95 COP 12.4K

12.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.87 COP 40.3K

$13.37 COP 41.8K

-3.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 COP 4,242

$1.66 COP 5,186

-18.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 COP 9,305

$2.98 COP 9,309

-0.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 COP 3,414

$1.23 COP 3,837

-11.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$78.6 COP 245.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.00 COP 3,121

$1.51 COP 4,710

-33.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.36 COP 7,394

$2.04 COP 6,384

15.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 COP 26.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 COP 4,016

$1.35 COP 4,215

-5.19%

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

$22.3K COP 69.9M

$28.1K COP 87.8M

-20.47%

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

$36.1K COP 112.8M

$36.0K COP 112.6M

0.17%

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

$128 COP 401.9K

$152 COP 475.6K

-15.51%

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

$16.40 COP 51.3K

$13.16 COP 41.2K

24.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.28 COP 97.8K

$31.61 COP 98.9K

-1.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.96 COP 103.1K

$47.90 COP 149.8K

-31.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.95 COP 53.0K

Cinema Ticket

$7.96 COP 24.9K

$6.41 COP 20.1K

24.18%

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

$472 COP 1.5M

$853 COP 2.7M

-44.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,540 COP 20.5M

$8,701 COP 27.2M

-24.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.3 COP 248.1K

$91.0 COP 284.7K

-12.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.3 COP 157.3K

$54.6 COP 170.8K

-7.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 433.1K

$136 COP 425.2K

1.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 COP 351.5K

$109 COP 340.3K

3.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 COP 2.1M

$963 COP 3.0M

-31.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 COP 1.5M

$658 COP 2.1M

-25.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 COP 3.1M

$1,985 COP 6.2M

-49.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$935 COP 2.9M

$1,158 COP 3.6M

-19.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,032 COP 6.4M

$3,664 COP 11.5M

-44.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,561 COP 4.9M

$1,573 COP 4.9M

-0.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$629 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.71

10.43

21.86%

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

Last update for Tunja: August 10, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $657 in Tunja versus $963 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 $41.00 in Tunja versus $44.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $259 vs $295 – 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 25%, 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 $1,999 per month in Tunja and $2,493 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 $41.00 in Tunja and $44.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% 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 $1,333, than in Medellin at $1,662. 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.