Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Emporia, KS and Medellin

For one person, living costs are similar in Emporia, KS and in Medellin: $1,558 and $1,625 a month, rent and utilities included.

Emporia, KS
🇺🇸 United States
$1,558
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Emporia, KS and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Emporia, KS and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,558 per month in Emporia, KS vs $1,625 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Emporia, KS $1,558
  • Medellin $1,625

A couple spends around $2,497 per month in Emporia, KS vs $2,412 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Emporia, KS $2,497
  • Medellin $2,412

A family of three spends $3,435 per month in Emporia, KS vs $3,199 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Emporia, KS $3,435
  • Medellin $3,199

Emporia, KS is about 4% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Emporia, KS and Medellin sit above the global median – Emporia, KS by 15%, Medellin by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Emporia, KS
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.83 $15.83
$8.30 COP 26.3K
90.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.6 $75.6
$46.91 COP 148.7K
61.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.90 $11.90
$9.24 COP 29.3K
28.79%
Cappuccino
$4.45 $4.45
$3.05 COP 9,676
45.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$1.80 COP 5,707
29.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.38 COP 4,382
22.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.05 $5.05
$3.24 COP 10.3K
55.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.06 $6.06
$5.56 COP 17.6K
8.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Emporia, KS
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.50 COP 4,760
-41.33%
White Bread (500g)
$3.30 $3.30
$2.37 COP 7,508
39.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 $1.92
$1.70 COP 5,377
12.94%
Eggs
$2.85 $2.85
$2.96 COP 9,379
-3.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.30 $8.30
$10.22 COP 32.4K
-18.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.45 $8.45
$9.74 COP 30.9K
-13.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.40 $14.40
$13.90 COP 44.1K
3.60%
Apples (1kg)
$4.99 $4.99
$4.13 COP 13.1K
20.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.20 $1.20
$1.53 COP 4,839
-21.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.84 $2.84
$2.22 COP 7,052
27.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.79 $2.79
$2.27 COP 7,194
22.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.99 COP 6,311
-17.59%
Onion (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$1.67 COP 5,285
65.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.18 COP 3,742
59.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.32 $2.32
$1.24 COP 3,919
87.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.13 $9.13
$3.87 COP 12.3K
135.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.49 $9.49
$13.78 COP 43.7K
-31.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.66 COP 5,256
10.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.40 COP 7,615
7.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Emporia, KS
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.24 COP 3,944
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$78.2 COP 248.0K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.91 $4.91
$1.28 COP 4,044
283.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 $1.82
$2.15 COP 6,803
-15.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.41 $34.41
$8.37 COP 26.5K
311.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.35 COP 4,288
-34.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K $27.5K
$34.8K COP 110.2M
-20.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$34.7K COP 110.0M
-25.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Emporia, KS
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$144 $144
$167 COP 528.4K
-13.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.93 $46.93
$13.62 COP 43.2K
244.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.14 $49.14
$29.12 COP 92.3K
68.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Emporia, KS
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.39 $44.39
$45.09 COP 143.0K
-1.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.18 COP 54.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.43 $12.43
$6.97 COP 22.1K
78.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Emporia, KS
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$824 $824
$790 COP 2.5M
4.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$9,041 COP 28.7M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Emporia, KS
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.75 $48.75
$87.8 COP 278.4K
-44.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.34 $25.34
$58.2 COP 184.4K
-56.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.5 $89.5
$139 COP 440.7K
-35.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.4 $83.4
$98.9 COP 313.5K
-15.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Emporia, KS
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$685 $685
$1,028 COP 3.3M
-33.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$546 $546
$620 COP 2.0M
-11.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,752 $1,752
$1,881 COP 6.0M
-6.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,108 $1,108
$1,008 COP 3.2M
10.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,251 $1,251
$3,988 COP 12.6M
-68.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,246 $1,246
$1,702 COP 5.4M
-26.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Emporia, KS
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,551 $5,551
$663 COP 2.1M
736.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.37
10.94
-41.77%

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

Last update for Emporia, KS: October 18, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Emporia, KS
$546
Medellin
$619 13.5% $74
Groceries & Markets
Emporia, KS
$308
Medellin
$298 3.3% $10
Eating Out
Emporia, KS
$269
Medellin
$171 36.6% $98
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Emporia, KS
$240
Medellin
$209 12.9% $31
Clothing & Footwear
Emporia, KS
$111
Medellin
$173 55.4% $62
Sport & Entertainment
Emporia, KS
$69
Medellin
$59 14.8% $10
Getting Around
Emporia, KS
$14 *
Medellin
$95 579% $81

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $685 in Emporia, KS versus $1,028 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 737% higher in Emporia, KS, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Emporia, KS versus $47.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $308 vs $298 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Emporia, KS
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
03:50 3:50 AM
03:50 3:50 AM
Same time as Emporia, KS
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
26,188
2,486,723
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Emporia, KS Medellin 4,130 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Emporia, KS
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Emporia, KS vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Emporia, KS or Medellin?
Medellin costs about 4% more than Emporia, KS, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Emporia, KS and in Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,337 per month in Emporia, KS and $2,437 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Emporia, KS or Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Emporia, KS, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Emporia, KS and in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Emporia, KS and $47.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Emporia, KS or in Medellin?
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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Emporia, KS or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Emporia, KS, where all-in costs run around $1,558, than in Medellin at $1,625. In Emporia, KS it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Emporia, KS or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Emporia, KS costs $1,558 versus $1,625 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Emporia, KS or to Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Emporia, KS. 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.

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