😐A single person spends $1,445 per month in Emporia, KS vs $1,018 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,358 per month in Emporia, KS vs $1,609 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,272 per month in Emporia, KS vs $2,200 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Emporia, KS costs about 42% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Emporia, KS sits 8% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Emporia, KS
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.57$12.57
$5.93COP 19.0K
111.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.1$58.1
$33.12COP 106.0K
75.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.83$9.83
$7.12COP 22.8K
38.06%
Cappuccino
$4.57$4.57
$1.71COP 5,457
167.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10$2.10
$1.05COP 3,356
100.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54$1.54
$0.72COP 2,311
113.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.96$4.96
$1.72COP 5,502
188.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.87$5.87
$3.17COP 10.2K
85.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Emporia, KS
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.78$0.78
$1.06COP 3,408
-26.42%
White Bread(500g)
$3.22$3.22
$1.31COP 4,192
145.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92$1.92
$1.33COP 4,256
44.36%
Eggs
$2.71$2.71
$2.28COP 7,298
18.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.19$8.19
$4.42COP 14.1K
85.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.72$10.72
$5.92COP 18.9K
81.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.47$14.47
$8.64COP 27.7K
67.48%
Apples(1kg)
$4.84$4.84
$2.34COP 7,504
106.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.14$1.14
$1.10COP 3,527
3.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83$2.83
$1.47COP 4,698
92.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85$2.85
$1.38COP 4,415
106.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67$1.67
$1.17COP 3,754
42.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.85$2.85
$1.17COP 3,744
143.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.81$1.81
$0.90COP 2,890
101.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.31$2.31
$0.84COP 2,693
175.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.85$9.85
$2.33COP 7,449
322.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.58$9.58
$11.92COP 38.1K
-19.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74$1.74
$1.15COP 3,673
51.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24$3.24
$2.42COP 7,749
33.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Emporia, KS
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.95$1.95
$0.84COP 2,687
132.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$40.83COP 130.7K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.66$6.66
$1.41COP 4,517
372.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22$1.22
$1.91COP 6,127
-36.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.55$34.55
$7.83COP 25.0K
341.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78$0.78
$0.94COP 3,020
-17.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K$30.8K
$17.8KCOP 57.0M
73.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K$25.1K
$27.1KCOP 86.7M
-7.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Emporia, KS
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$111$111
$83.3COP 266.4K
33.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.68$49.68
$9.66COP 30.9K
414.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.0$50.0
$24.22COP 77.5K
106.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Emporia, KS
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.16$45.16
$25.22COP 80.7K
79.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.33COP 61.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.34$12.34
$4.07COP 13.0K
203.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Emporia, KS
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,065$1,065
$307COP 981.2K
247.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.4K$23.4K
$5,981COP 19.1M
291.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Emporia, KS
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.28$48.28
$60.0COP 191.9K
-19.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.65$24.65
$32.65COP 104.5K
-24.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.2$85.2
$101COP 323.5K
-15.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.1$86.1
$108COP 345.7K
-20.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Emporia, KS
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$624$624
$476COP 1.5M
31.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$491$491
$379COP 1.2M
29.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,063$2,063
$816COP 2.6M
152.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,154$1,154
$707COP 2.3M
63.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,245$1,245
$3,190COP 10.2M
-60.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,240$1,240
$1,446COP 4.6M
-14.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Emporia, KS
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,391$5,391
$622COP 2.0M
767.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.54
13.43
-51.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Emporia, KS: July 19, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $624 in Emporia, KS versus $476 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 767% higher in Emporia, KS, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Emporia, KS versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $317 vs $192 – making Medellin 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
Emporia, KS vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Emporia, KS or Medellin?
Emporia, KS costs about 42% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,167 per month in Emporia, KS and $1,527 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 Medellin, 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 $58.0 in Emporia, KS and $33.00 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?
Groceries cost about 65% more in Emporia, KS, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Emporia, KS or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,018, than in Emporia, KS at $1,445. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Emporia, KS 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. Medellin costs $1,018 versus $1,445 in Emporia, KS. 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Emporia, KS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Emporia, KS vs other spots: cost of living compared