🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $503 in Eldoret versus $1,687 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $869 in Eldoret versus $2,535 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,234 in Eldoret versus $3,383 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Eldoret costs roughly 70% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Eldoret is 63% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Eldoret
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.51KES 195
$7.89COP 24.2K
-80.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.72KES 4,493
$44.53COP 136.5K
-22.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.02KES 779
$9.29COP 28.5K
-35.20%
Cappuccino
$2.75KES 355
$2.90COP 8,874
-5.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30KES 38.82
$1.81COP 5,541
-83.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41KES 52.9
$1.55COP 4,741
-73.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39KES 309
$3.25COP 9,962
-26.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69KES 348
$5.88COP 18.0K
-54.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eldoret
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.68KES 87.5
$1.38COP 4,230
-50.72%
White Bread(500g)
$0.50KES 64.3
$2.45COP 7,517
-79.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55KES 200
$1.51COP 4,617
2.65%
Eggs
$1.57KES 203
$2.78COP 8,516
-43.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.88KES 502
$9.05COP 27.7K
-57.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.23KES 548
$10.65COP 32.6K
-60.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.23KES 548
$14.63COP 44.8K
-71.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37KES 307
$3.97COP 12.2K
-40.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.00KES 129
$1.38COP 4,219
-27.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.67KES 86.4
$2.30COP 7,056
-70.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.92KES 119
$2.02COP 6,185
-54.46%
Potato(1kg)
$0.55KES 71.4
$2.09COP 6,390
-73.68%
Onion(1kg)
$0.48KES 61.6
$1.63COP 4,996
-70.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70KES 90.9
$1.08COP 3,313
-35.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66KES 84.8
$1.25COP 3,843
-47.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.57KES 461
$4.03COP 12.4K
-11.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.97KES 773
$13.47COP 41.3K
-55.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04KES 263
$1.60COP 4,904
27.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51KES 195
$3.00COP 9,189
-49.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Eldoret
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.35KES 174
$1.18COP 3,611
14.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$79.9COP 244.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.53KES 197
$1.61COP 4,920
-4.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52KES 197
$2.13COP 6,533
-28.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.97KES 384
$8.52COP 26.1K
-65.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53KES 198
$1.35COP 4,142
13.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8KKES 2.4M
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
-33.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.2KKES 2.5M
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
-46.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eldoret
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.96KES 5,171
$151COP 463.8K
-73.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.34KES 1,985
$13.10COP 40.1K
17.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.18KES 4,423
$32.30COP 99.0K
5.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eldoret
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.07KES 5,055
$46.33COP 141.9K
-15.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.26COP 52.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.13KES 664
$6.43COP 19.7K
-20.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eldoret
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$63.1KES 8,166
$835COP 2.6M
-92.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.9KKES 1.4M
$8,887COP 27.2M
22.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eldoret
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.53KES 1,492
$89.3COP 273.7K
-87.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.72KES 3,199
$55.3COP 169.5K
-55.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$19.65KES 2,542
$137COP 418.5K
-85.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.15KES 4,549
$109COP 335.1K
-67.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eldoret
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$93.4KES 12.1K
$952COP 2.9M
-90.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$87.8KES 11.4K
$668COP 2.0M
-86.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,020COP 6.2M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$276KES 35.7K
$1,148COP 3.5M
-75.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$608KES 78.7K
$3,696COP 11.3M
-83.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,586COP 4.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eldoret
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$625COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.71
10.43
41.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Eldoret: August 18, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $93.4 in Eldoret and $952 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Eldoret vs $45.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $133 vs $297 per month, with Eldoret cheaper across the board.
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
Eldoret vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Eldoret or Medellin?
Eldoret wins on cost – living expenses run 235% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Eldoret the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Eldoret and in Medellin?
You'd need roughly $755 in Eldoret and $2,530 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Eldoret compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $93.4 in Eldoret versus $952 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Eldoret or in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 123% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Eldoret compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $503 per month in Eldoret versus $1,687 in Medellin – a 235% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Eldoret or in Medellin?
At $503 in Eldoret versus $1,687 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Eldoret but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Eldoret the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Eldoret or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Eldoret delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $503 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Eldoret hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Eldoret gentler on the wallet – expenses run 235% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.