😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,802 in Kalgoorlie versus $1,034 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,065 in Kalgoorlie versus $1,577 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,329 in Kalgoorlie versus $2,120 in Medellin.
😐Living in Kalgoorlie is roughly 74% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kalgoorlie is 35% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalgoorlie
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.03A$22.28
$5.92COP 21.5K
170.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5A$110
$32.75COP 119.1K
142.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.65A$13.42
$7.20COP 26.2K
34.03%
Cappuccino
$4.20A$5.84
$1.70COP 6,186
147.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68A$5.11
$1.10COP 3,996
234.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19A$4.43
$0.72COP 2,625
343.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.70A$7.92
$1.67COP 6,067
241.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.95A$9.66
$3.10COP 11.3K
124.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalgoorlie
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47A$2.05
$1.06COP 3,837
38.68%
White Bread(500g)
$3.31A$4.59
$1.25COP 4,531
164.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.94A$2.70
$1.39COP 5,060
39.57%
Eggs
$3.82A$5.30
$2.26COP 8,229
69.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.30A$11.53
$4.33COP 15.8K
91.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39A$11.67
$5.84COP 21.2K
43.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.93A$19.36
$8.83COP 32.1K
57.76%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23A$4.49
$2.24COP 8,159
44.20%
Banana(1kg)
$2.75A$3.82
$1.08COP 3,911
154.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.89A$4.02
$1.53COP 5,563
88.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.08A$5.67
$1.37COP 4,987
197.81%
Potato(1kg)
$2.41A$3.35
$1.13COP 4,109
113.27%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10A$2.92
$1.12COP 4,067
87.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98A$2.75
$0.85COP 3,080
132.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54A$2.14
$0.91COP 3,305
69.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$30.97A$43.04
$2.33COP 8,477
1229.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.27A$19.83
$11.13COP 40.5K
28.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.60A$6.39
$1.19COP 4,342
286.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.41A$7.51
$2.37COP 8,617
128.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalgoorlie
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.65A$3.69
$0.79COP 2,859
235.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.8A$88.6
$41.13COP 149.6K
55.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.63A$5.04
$1.44COP 5,223
152.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60A$2.23
$1.91COP 6,952
-16.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.10A$47.39
$8.02COP 29.2K
325.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27A$1.77
$0.94COP 3,410
35.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3KA$40.7K
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
63.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8KA$31.7K
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
-14.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalgoorlie
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$292A$406
$84.0COP 305.4K
247.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.4A$72.8
$9.60COP 34.9K
445.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.6A$91.1
$24.16COP 87.9K
171.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalgoorlie
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.88A$49.87
$25.88COP 94.1K
38.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.84A$22.02
$19.04COP 69.3K
-16.81%
Cinema Ticket
$16.42A$22.82
$3.92COP 14.2K
318.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalgoorlie
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,647A$2,289
$306COP 1.1M
437.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9KA$16.6K
$5,919COP 21.5M
101.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalgoorlie
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.3A$94.9
$57.9COP 210.6K
17.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.61A$69.0
$31.82COP 115.7K
55.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0A$136
$99.9COP 363.3K
-1.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108A$151
$107COP 389.7K
1.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalgoorlie
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,264A$1,757
$487COP 1.8M
159.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$458A$637
$368COP 1.3M
24.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,557A$2,164
$826COP 3.0M
88.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,439A$2,001
$716COP 2.6M
101.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,170A$8,577
$2,925COP 10.6M
110.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,985A$6,930
$1,407COP 5.1M
254.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalgoorlie
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,167A$8,572
$546COP 2.0M
1030.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
13.43
-52.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kalgoorlie: April 28, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,264 in Kalgoorlie and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kalgoorlie pays 1030% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $79.0 in Kalgoorlie vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $344 vs $190 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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
Kalgoorlie vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kalgoorlie or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 74% lower than in Kalgoorlie. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kalgoorlie or Medellin?
Kalgoorlie pays 1030% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kalgoorlie vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,264 in Kalgoorlie versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Kalgoorlie vs Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 55% less than in Kalgoorlie. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Kalgoorlie and Medellin?
Childcare runs $1,647 in Kalgoorlie versus $306 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Kalgoorlie or Medellin?
At $1,034 in Medellin versus $1,802 in Kalgoorlie, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Kalgoorlie. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kalgoorlie or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,034 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Kalgoorlie compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Kalgoorlie and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Kalgoorlie. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Kalgoorlie vs other spots: cost of living compared