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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,315 per month in Tunja vs $1,656 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,022 per month in Tunja vs $2,436 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,729 per month in Tunja vs $3,216 in Medellin, rent included.

Tunja is about 21% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Tunja sits 2% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.72 COP 18.8K

$7.70 COP 25.4K

-25.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.70 COP 107.7K

$47.79 COP 157.4K

-31.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.48 COP 31.2K

$9.31 COP 30.6K

1.83%

Cappuccino

$2.21 COP 7,278

$3.02 COP 9,944

-26.82%

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

$1.41 COP 4,635

$1.79 COP 5,903

-21.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 COP 3,515

$1.50 COP 4,933

-28.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 COP 5,638

$3.25 COP 10.7K

-47.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 COP 8,701

$5.74 COP 18.9K

-54.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 COP 5,028

$1.42 COP 4,689

7.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 COP 4,913

$2.52 COP 8,301

-40.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 COP 5,788

$1.67 COP 5,508

5.39%

Eggs

$3.30 COP 10.9K

$2.82 COP 9,290

17.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.27 COP 27.2K

$10.25 COP 33.8K

-19.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.71 COP 48.5K

$9.47 COP 31.2K

55.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.90 COP 58.9K

$13.91 COP 45.8K

28.68%

Apples (1kg)

$3.56 COP 11.7K

$4.12 COP 13.6K

-13.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 COP 4,744

$1.56 COP 5,126

-7.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 COP 7,219

$2.21 COP 7,274

-0.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 COP 5,979

$2.26 COP 7,444

-19.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.44 COP 4,759

$1.99 COP 6,542

-27.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.49 COP 4,920

$1.48 COP 4,860

0.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 COP 3,089

$1.15 COP 3,778

-18.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 COP 3,104

$1.24 COP 4,093

-24.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 COP 14.7K

$3.96 COP 13.0K

12.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.95 COP 42.6K

$13.63 COP 44.9K

-4.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 COP 4,790

$1.67 COP 5,511

-13.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 COP 5,517

$2.75 COP 9,044

-38.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 COP 3,709

$1.17 COP 3,847

-3.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.5 COP 261.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 COP 3,239

$1.28 COP 4,212

-23.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 COP 6,750

$2.16 COP 7,117

-5.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.82 COP 25.8K

$8.28 COP 27.3K

-5.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 COP 4,353

$1.35 COP 4,443

-2.22%

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

$27.5K COP 90.4M

$27.4K COP 90.2M

0.25%

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

$33.7K COP 111.0M

$36.0K COP 118.7M

-6.43%

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

$180 COP 593.5K

$173 COP 570.1K

4.10%

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

$10.94 COP 36.0K

$13.73 COP 45.2K

-20.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.31 COP 86.6K

$28.34 COP 93.3K

-7.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.98 COP 121.8K

$44.27 COP 145.8K

-16.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.63 COP 54.8K

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 COP 21.4K

$6.58 COP 21.7K

-1.06%

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

$641 COP 2.1M

$799 COP 2.6M

-19.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,693 COP 22.0M

$9,089 COP 29.9M

-26.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.2 COP 175.3K

$87.9 COP 289.4K

-39.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.2 COP 188.5K

$58.5 COP 192.6K

-2.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 COP 410.9K

$138 COP 455.6K

-9.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.0 COP 322.9K

$97.5 COP 321.0K

0.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$698 COP 2.3M

$1,033 COP 3.4M

-32.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$472 COP 1.6M

$646 COP 2.1M

-26.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,043 COP 3.4M

$1,847 COP 6.1M

-43.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$985 COP 3.2M

$1,026 COP 3.4M

-3.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,991 COP 6.6M

$4,108 COP 13.5M

-51.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,704 COP 5.6M

$1,678 COP 5.5M

1.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$651 COP 2.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.4

10.94

13.35%

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

Last update for Tunja: September 21, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $698 in Tunja versus $1,033 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 $33.00 in Tunja versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $306 in Tunja vs $297 in Medellin – so Medellin 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

Tunja vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 26%, 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 $1,972 per month in Tunja and $2,484 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 $33.00 in Tunja and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tunja, where all-in costs run around $1,315, than in Medellin at $1,656. 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.