🙂A single person spends $982 per month in Kakanj vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,453 per month in Kakanj vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,924 per month in Kakanj vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Kakanj is about 40% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Kakanj sits 29% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.95BAM 11.67
$8.04COP 24.9K
-13.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.93BAM 65.4
$48.29COP 149.7K
-19.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09BAM 11.90
$9.42COP 29.2K
-24.73%
Cappuccino
$1.70BAM 2.86
$2.94COP 9,105
-42.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96BAM 3.29
$1.86COP 5,776
5.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29BAM 2.17
$1.46COP 4,511
-11.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39BAM 4.01
$3.21COP 9,953
-25.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42BAM 4.07
$5.71COP 17.7K
-57.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24BAM 2.08
$1.44COP 4,460
-13.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13BAM 1.90
$2.40COP 7,442
-52.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.13BAM 3.58
$1.70COP 5,265
25.29%
Eggs
$3.00BAM 5.04
$2.89COP 8,960
3.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.75BAM 16.37
$10.06COP 31.2K
-3.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.60BAM 12.77
$9.97COP 30.9K
-23.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.41BAM 22.52
$14.20COP 44.0K
-5.56%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16BAM 1.94
$3.98COP 12.3K
-70.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65BAM 2.77
$1.58COP 4,913
4.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.41BAM 2.36
$2.15COP 6,671
-34.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.75BAM 2.95
$2.30COP 7,129
-23.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01BAM 1.70
$2.00COP 6,213
-49.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06BAM 1.78
$1.51COP 4,679
-29.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01BAM 1.69
$1.20COP 3,727
-15.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76BAM 1.28
$1.28COP 3,974
-40.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.94BAM 6.62
$3.84COP 11.9K
2.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92BAM 13.30
$14.01COP 43.4K
-43.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91BAM 1.54
$1.71COP 5,294
-46.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35BAM 2.27
$2.74COP 8,500
-50.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.31BAM 2.19
$1.25COP 3,861
4.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$77.9COP 241.5K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.79BAM 3.01
$1.31COP 4,045
36.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.57BAM 0.96
$2.17COP 6,728
-73.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.83BAM 18.19
$8.29COP 25.7K
30.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53BAM 2.57
$1.36COP 4,202
12.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KBAM 53.8K
$27.5KCOP 85.2M
16.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4KBAM 37.6K
$36.5KCOP 113.2M
-38.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123BAM 206
$169COP 523.0K
-27.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.85BAM 28.30
$13.57COP 42.1K
24.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.72BAM 46.56
$28.32COP 87.8K
-2.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.49BAM 57.9
$45.71COP 141.7K
-24.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.22COP 53.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.57BAM 9.36
$6.65COP 20.6K
-16.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$159BAM 266
$803COP 2.5M
-80.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,988BAM 6,698
$9,190COP 28.5M
-56.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.9BAM 102
$87.4COP 270.8K
-30.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.53BAM 56.3
$59.4COP 184.0K
-43.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.4BAM 152
$139COP 430.5K
-34.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103BAM 174
$102COP 316.3K
1.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$349BAM 586
$1,071COP 3.3M
-67.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$261BAM 438
$653COP 2.0M
-60.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$533BAM 895
$1,925COP 6.0M
-72.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$381BAM 641
$1,048COP 3.2M
-63.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,576BAM 4,327
$4,123COP 12.8M
-37.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,846BAM 3,100
$1,697COP 5.3M
8.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$655COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.3
10.94
-60.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kakanj: September 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $349 in Kakanj versus $1,071 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 $39.00 in Kakanj versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $223 vs $300 – making Kakanj 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
Kakanj vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Kakanj?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 67%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,473 per month in Kakanj and $2,462 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kakanj, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Kakanj and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $982 in Kakanj and $1,641 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $159 per month in Kakanj and $803 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Kakanj or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kakanj, where all-in costs run around $982, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Kakanj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Kakanj or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kakanj – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Kakanj or Medellin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kakanj. 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.