🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $529 in Eldoret versus $1,017 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $935 in Eldoret versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,341 in Eldoret versus $2,188 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Eldoret costs roughly 48% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Eldoret61% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Eldoret
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.39KES 699
$5.95COP 20.8K
-9.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.45KES 4,985
$33.33COP 116.3K
15.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.01KES 909
$7.23COP 25.2K
-3.04%
Cappuccino
$2.49KES 323
$1.63COP 5,687
52.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75KES 96.7
$1.09COP 3,821
-31.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51KES 65.5
$0.73COP 2,548
-30.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.26KES 294
$1.74COP 6,065
29.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85KES 370
$3.23COP 11.3K
-11.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eldoret
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.70KES 91.2
$1.05COP 3,662
-33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.47KES 61.2
$1.29COP 4,515
-63.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18KES 154
$1.32COP 4,617
-10.61%
Eggs
$1.58KES 204
$2.27COP 7,927
-30.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.84KES 498
$4.35COP 15.2K
-11.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65KES 473
$5.88COP 20.5K
-37.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.14KES 537
$8.61COP 30.0K
-51.92%
Apples(1kg)
$3.16KES 410
$2.25COP 7,844
40.44%
Banana(1kg)
$0.88KES 114
$1.07COP 3,733
-17.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65KES 214
$1.52COP 5,322
8.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.04KES 135
$1.42COP 4,964
-26.76%
Potato(1kg)
$0.52KES 66.9
$1.17COP 4,084
-55.56%
Onion(1kg)
$0.84KES 109
$1.17COP 4,077
-28.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65KES 84.2
$0.89COP 3,096
-26.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68KES 87.8
$0.90COP 3,146
-24.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18KES 413
$2.25COP 7,837
41.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.65KES 733
$11.04COP 38.5K
-48.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72KES 224
$1.14COP 3,977
50.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53KES 199
$2.38COP 8,301
-35.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Eldoret
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.35KES 175
$0.84COP 2,916
60.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.95COP 146.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.57KES 204
$1.41COP 4,912
11.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.56KES 202
$1.90COP 6,634
-17.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.93KES 380
$7.75COP 27.0K
-62.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.48KES 191
$1.01COP 3,509
46.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7KKES 2.8M
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
23.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8KKES 2.6M
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-25.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eldoret
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$34.23KES 4,438
$83.7COP 292.1K
-59.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.98KES 2,202
$9.45COP 33.0K
79.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.36KES 5,103
$24.11COP 84.1K
63.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eldoret
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.19KES 4,952
$25.31COP 88.3K
50.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14COP 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.05KES 655
$4.10COP 14.3K
23.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eldoret
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$63.2KES 8,196
$312COP 1.1M
-79.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,903KES 1.0M
$5,993COP 20.9M
31.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eldoret
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.69KES 1,516
$58.0COP 202.6K
-79.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.05KES 3,119
$32.56COP 113.6K
-26.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$19.24KES 2,495
$99.6COP 347.7K
-80.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.23KES 4,568
$109COP 378.8K
-67.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eldoret
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$91.4KES 11.9K
$482COP 1.7M
-81.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$88.2KES 11.4K
$379COP 1.3M
-76.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$837COP 2.9M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$268KES 34.8K
$723COP 2.5M
-62.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$624KES 81.0K
$2,840COP 9.9M
-78.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,223COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eldoret
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$541COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
13.43
-10.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Eldoret: June 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $91.4 in Eldoret and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Eldoret vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $135 vs $190, with Eldoret cheaper for home cooking.
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 92% 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 vs Medellin?
You'd need roughly $793 in Eldoret and $1,525 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 vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $91.4 in Eldoret versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Eldoret or Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 41% 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 $529 per month in Eldoret versus $1,017 in Medellin – a 92% 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 Medellin?
At $529 in Eldoret versus $1,017 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 $529 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 92% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.