🙂A single person spends $920 per month in Kakanj vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,439 per month in Kakanj vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,959 per month in Kakanj vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Kakanj is about 9% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Kakanj and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Kakanj31% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.29BAM 12.25
$5.99COP 21.4K
21.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.74BAM 60.1
$32.86COP 117.4K
8.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.86BAM 9.85
$7.09COP 25.3K
-17.35%
Cappuccino
$1.65BAM 2.77
$1.71COP 6,115
-3.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73BAM 2.91
$1.10COP 3,924
57.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15BAM 1.93
$0.78COP 2,781
47.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.03BAM 3.41
$1.68COP 5,997
20.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12BAM 3.56
$3.07COP 11.0K
-30.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36BAM 2.29
$1.09COP 3,906
24.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25BAM 2.10
$1.26COP 4,508
-0.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77BAM 2.97
$1.38COP 4,922
28.26%
Eggs
$2.87BAM 4.82
$2.19COP 7,827
31.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.93BAM 13.33
$4.40COP 15.7K
80.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.68BAM 12.91
$5.63COP 20.1K
36.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.86BAM 19.93
$8.89COP 31.8K
33.41%
Apples(1kg)
$1.43BAM 2.41
$2.34COP 8,349
-38.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62BAM 2.73
$1.06COP 3,777
52.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90BAM 3.19
$1.50COP 5,374
26.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.73BAM 2.91
$1.38COP 4,924
25.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.07BAM 1.80
$1.15COP 4,111
-6.96%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21BAM 2.04
$1.16COP 4,155
4.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.12BAM 1.88
$0.89COP 3,182
25.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77BAM 1.29
$0.84COP 2,997
-8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.56BAM 5.98
$2.28COP 8,145
56.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.74BAM 11.33
$10.64COP 38.0K
-36.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.86BAM 1.45
$1.20COP 4,284
-28.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23BAM 2.06
$2.47COP 8,824
-50.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.84BAM 3.10
$0.86COP 3,056
113.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.26BAM 59.2
$41.40COP 147.9K
-14.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.46BAM 2.45
$1.47COP 5,264
-0.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.83BAM 1.39
$1.96COP 7,009
-57.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.11BAM 15.30
$7.74COP 27.6K
17.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52BAM 2.56
$0.95COP 3,409
60.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5KBAM 44.5K
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
46.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3KBAM 44.3K
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
-0.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$158BAM 265
$82.3COP 293.7K
91.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.52BAM 31.11
$9.50COP 33.9K
94.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85BAM 40.06
$24.23COP 86.5K
-1.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.56BAM 49.66
$25.89COP 92.4K
14.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.72BAM 18.00
$19.00COP 67.9K
-43.58%
Cinema Ticket
$5.67BAM 9.53
$3.93COP 14.0K
44.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$170BAM 286
$309COP 1.1M
-45.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,374BAM 5,669
$5,965COP 21.3M
-43.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.4BAM 117
$58.7COP 209.5K
18.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24BAM 59.2
$32.35COP 115.5K
8.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.6BAM 149
$103COP 366.4K
-13.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117BAM 197
$108COP 387.2K
8.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$259BAM 435
$476COP 1.7M
-45.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$167BAM 280
$379COP 1.4M
-55.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$362BAM 608
$838COP 3.0M
-56.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$314BAM 527
$724COP 2.6M
-56.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,753BAM 4,626
$2,791COP 10.0M
-1.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,066BAM 3,471
$1,211COP 4.3M
70.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$512COP 1.8M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.23
13.43
-68.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kakanj: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $259 in Kakanj 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Kakanj versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $215 vs $188 – 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
Kakanj vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Kakanj?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,379 per month in Kakanj and $1,519 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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 17% less in Kakanj. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $170 per month in Kakanj and $309 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 Kakanj or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kakanj, where all-in costs run around $920, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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.