😐A single person spends $2,748 per month in Kanata vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,809 per month in Kanata vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,870 per month in Kanata vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Kanata costs about 170% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Kanata sits 104% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kanata
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.57CA$25.93
$5.95COP 20.8K
212.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7CA$95.9
$33.33COP 116.3K
106.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.97CA$15.32
$7.23COP 25.2K
51.73%
Cappuccino
$3.70CA$5.17
$1.63COP 5,687
126.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96CA$2.73
$1.09COP 3,821
79.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69CA$2.36
$0.73COP 2,548
131.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.60CA$7.82
$1.74COP 6,065
221.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.84CA$8.15
$3.23COP 11.3K
80.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kanata
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.12CA$2.95
$1.05COP 3,662
101.90%
White Bread(500g)
$2.48CA$3.46
$1.29COP 4,515
92.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.49CA$4.88
$1.32COP 4,617
164.39%
Eggs
$2.74CA$3.83
$2.27COP 7,927
20.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.10CA$15.50
$4.35COP 15.2K
155.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.42CA$14.55
$5.88COP 20.5K
77.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.24CA$28.26
$8.61COP 30.0K
135.08%
Apples(1kg)
$4.13CA$5.76
$2.25COP 7,844
83.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37CA$1.92
$1.07COP 3,733
28.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.31CA$4.62
$1.52COP 5,322
117.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.82CA$5.34
$1.42COP 4,964
169.01%
Potato(1kg)
$2.52CA$3.52
$1.17COP 4,084
115.38%
Onion(1kg)
$3.00CA$4.18
$1.17COP 4,077
156.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.59CA$3.62
$0.89COP 3,096
191.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.77CA$2.48
$0.90COP 3,146
96.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.86CA$16.57
$2.25COP 7,837
427.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.29CA$29.73
$11.04COP 38.5K
92.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.83CA$3.96
$1.14COP 3,977
148.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48CA$4.87
$2.38COP 8,301
46.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Kanata
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.65CA$3.69
$0.84COP 2,916
215.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$78.9CA$110
$41.95COP 146.4K
88.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.09CA$4.32
$1.41COP 4,912
119.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48CA$2.07
$1.90COP 6,634
-22.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.89CA$36.16
$7.75COP 27.0K
234.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13CA$1.58
$1.01COP 3,509
11.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1KCA$35.1K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
42.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0KCA$29.3K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-20.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kanata
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$142CA$198
$83.7COP 292.1K
69.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.03CA$61.5
$9.45COP 33.0K
365.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.65CA$67.9
$24.11COP 84.1K
101.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kanata
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.3CA$88.4
$25.31COP 88.3K
150.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14COP 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.53CA$16.10
$4.10COP 14.3K
181.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kanata
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$733CA$1,023
$312COP 1.1M
134.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9KCA$16.7K
$5,993COP 20.9M
99.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kanata
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5CA$74.7
$58.0COP 202.6K
-7.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.18CA$54.7
$32.56COP 113.6K
20.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.2CA$122
$99.6COP 347.7K
-12.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107CA$150
$109COP 378.8K
-1.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kanata
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,562CA$2,181
$482COP 1.7M
223.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,524CA$2,128
$379COP 1.3M
301.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,051CA$2,864
$837COP 2.9M
144.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,023CA$2,825
$723COP 2.5M
179.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,606CA$6,433
$2,840COP 9.9M
62.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,876CA$5,413
$1,223COP 4.3M
216.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kanata
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,128CA$4,369
$541COP 1.9M
478.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.03
13.43
-55.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kanata: June 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,562 in Kanata versus $482 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 478% higher in Kanata, 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 $69.0 in Kanata versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $387 vs $190 – 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
Kanata vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Kanata?
Yes – Kanata is pricier by about 170%, 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 $4,122 per month in Kanata and $1,525 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 Medellin, 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 88% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $733 per month in Kanata and $312 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 Kanata or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Kanata at $2,748. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kanata it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Kanata or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Kanata 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kanata makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.