🙂A single person spends $934 per month in Kakanj vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,465 per month in Kakanj vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,996 per month in Kakanj vs $2,167 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 – Kakanj30% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.24BAM 12.38
$6.16COP 20.1K
17.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.97BAM 61.5
$32.60COP 106.1K
10.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.72BAM 9.79
$7.34COP 23.9K
-22.07%
Cappuccino
$1.59BAM 2.71
$1.72COP 5,600
-7.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81BAM 3.10
$1.05COP 3,420
72.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16BAM 1.98
$0.77COP 2,515
50.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.02BAM 3.45
$1.69COP 5,488
19.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03BAM 3.47
$3.17COP 10.3K
-35.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42BAM 2.43
$1.05COP 3,423
35.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26BAM 2.16
$1.30COP 4,236
-3.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75BAM 2.99
$1.40COP 4,544
25.00%
Eggs
$3.00BAM 5.14
$2.16COP 7,047
38.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.76BAM 13.27
$4.39COP 14.3K
76.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.75BAM 13.25
$5.88COP 19.1K
31.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.21BAM 20.88
$8.64COP 28.1K
41.32%
Apples(1kg)
$1.40BAM 2.39
$2.28COP 7,426
-38.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66BAM 2.83
$1.11COP 3,604
49.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91BAM 3.27
$1.53COP 4,983
24.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.73BAM 2.96
$1.35COP 4,410
28.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.08BAM 1.84
$1.13COP 3,674
-4.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.15BAM 1.97
$1.13COP 3,692
1.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16BAM 1.99
$0.85COP 2,753
36.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76BAM 1.30
$0.91COP 2,975
-16.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.58BAM 6.12
$2.34COP 7,630
52.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.22BAM 14.05
$12.37COP 40.3K
-33.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91BAM 1.55
$1.20COP 3,909
-24.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21BAM 2.07
$2.49COP 8,104
-51.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.82BAM 3.11
$0.84COP 2,728
116.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.38BAM 60.5
$40.57COP 132.1K
-12.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.43BAM 2.45
$1.42COP 4,623
0.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.78BAM 1.34
$1.92COP 6,235
-59.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.00BAM 15.39
$7.66COP 24.9K
17.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52BAM 2.60
$0.99COP 3,223
53.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KBAM 45.5K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
47.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KBAM 44.6K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-2.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$162BAM 277
$80.8COP 263.1K
100.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.11BAM 32.68
$9.95COP 32.4K
92.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.48BAM 40.17
$24.18COP 78.7K
-2.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.09BAM 49.75
$25.08COP 81.7K
15.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.85BAM 18.55
$19.15COP 62.3K
-43.34%
Cinema Ticket
$5.72BAM 9.78
$3.98COP 13.0K
43.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$171BAM 293
$305COP 993.5K
-43.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,325BAM 5,687
$6,059COP 19.7M
-45.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.0BAM 120
$58.1COP 189.2K
20.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.30BAM 60.4
$32.20COP 104.8K
9.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.0BAM 152
$101COP 327.9K
-11.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119BAM 204
$108COP 350.8K
10.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$260BAM 444
$477COP 1.6M
-45.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$166BAM 284
$376COP 1.2M
-55.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$363BAM 621
$845COP 2.7M
-56.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$312BAM 534
$730COP 2.4M
-57.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,740BAM 4,686
$3,215COP 10.5M
-14.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,867BAM 3,193
$1,372COP 4.5M
36.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kakanj
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617COP 2.0M
-
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $260 in Kakanj versus $477 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: $220 vs $193 – 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 $1,401 per month in Kakanj and $1,546 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 15% less in Kakanj. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $171 per month in Kakanj and $305 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 $934, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.