Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kansas City, KS and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,639 a month against $2,714 in Kansas City, KS, rent and utilities included – about $12,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kansas City, KS, United States
Medellin, Colombia
Kansas City, KS
🇺🇸 United States
$2,714
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kansas City, KS and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kansas City, KS and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,714 per month in Kansas City, KS vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Kansas City, KS $2,714
  • Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $4,099 per month in Kansas City, KS vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Kansas City, KS $4,099
  • Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $5,484 per month in Kansas City, KS vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Kansas City, KS $5,484
  • Medellin $3,186

Kansas City, KS costs about 66% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Kansas City, KS and Medellin sit above the global median – Kansas City, KS by 99%, Medellin by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kansas City, KS
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.70 $23.70
$8.09 COP 25.4K
192.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.6 $81.6
$47.05 COP 148.0K
73.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.58 $12.58
$9.50 COP 29.9K
32.42%
Cappuccino
$6.09 $6.09
$3.01 COP 9,485
102.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 $3.05
$1.80 COP 5,660
69.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$1.41 COP 4,443
73.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.13 $5.13
$3.18 COP 9,990
61.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.86 $8.86
$5.75 COP 18.1K
54.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kansas City, KS
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.51 COP 4,751
-29.14%
White Bread (500g)
$3.37 $3.37
$2.38 COP 7,480
41.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.27 $5.27
$1.77 COP 5,573
197.74%
Eggs
$4.57 $4.57
$2.89 COP 9,093
58.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.97 $13.97
$10.19 COP 32.1K
37.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.50 $9.50
$9.87 COP 31.1K
-3.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.57 $13.57
$13.99 COP 44.0K
-3.00%
Apples (1kg)
$4.19 $4.19
$3.97 COP 12.5K
5.54%
Banana (1kg)
$2.10 $2.10
$1.55 COP 4,883
35.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.89 $5.89
$2.18 COP 6,867
170.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.45 $5.45
$2.18 COP 6,870
150.00%
Potato (1kg)
$3.57 $3.57
$1.96 COP 6,174
82.14%
Onion (1kg)
$3.78 $3.78
$1.59 COP 5,000
137.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.39 $2.39
$1.15 COP 3,604
107.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.24 COP 3,911
75.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.78 $8.78
$3.96 COP 12.5K
121.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.84 $16.84
$13.68 COP 43.0K
23.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 $1.81
$1.66 COP 5,222
9.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97 $3.97
$2.26 COP 7,104
75.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Kansas City, KS
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.17 COP 3,674
30.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.2 $55.2
$77.4 COP 243.4K
-28.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.93 $4.93
$1.27 COP 3,989
288.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.28 $1.28
$2.05 COP 6,442
-37.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.28 $41.28
$8.55 COP 26.9K
382.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.35 COP 4,237
-24.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K $27.3K
$34.1K COP 107.2M
-19.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$34.7K COP 109.1M
-24.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kansas City, KS
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$198 $198
$170 COP 533.7K
16.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.0 $53.0
$13.55 COP 42.6K
290.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.3 $64.3
$28.07 COP 88.3K
128.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kansas City, KS
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$113 $113
$43.70 COP 137.5K
159.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$64.7 $64.7
$17.19 COP 54.1K
276.15%
Cinema Ticket
$15.24 $15.24
$6.91 COP 21.7K
120.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kansas City, KS
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$445 $445
$797 COP 2.5M
-44.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.3K $21.3K
$9,112 COP 28.7M
133.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kansas City, KS
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 $59.8
$84.7 COP 266.5K
-29.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.22 $43.22
$58.0 COP 182.3K
-25.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 $104
$135 COP 424.6K
-23.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$146 $146
$97.9 COP 307.9K
48.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kansas City, KS
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,498 $1,498
$1,208 COP 3.8M
24.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 $1,255
$642 COP 2.0M
95.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,794 $2,794
$2,028 COP 6.4M
37.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,191 $2,191
$1,012 COP 3.2M
116.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,078 $2,078
$4,170 COP 13.1M
-50.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,167 $2,167
$1,910 COP 6.0M
13.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kansas City, KS
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,207 $3,207
$657 COP 2.1M
388.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.56
10.94
-40.04%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kansas City, KS: October 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kansas City, KS
$1.3K
Medellin
$642 48.9% $614
Groceries & Markets
Kansas City, KS
$403
Medellin
$297 26.3% $106
Eating Out
Kansas City, KS
$366
Medellin
$170 53.6% $196
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kansas City, KS
$316
Medellin
$211 33% $104
Clothing & Footwear
Kansas City, KS
$159
Medellin
$169 6.6% $10
Sport & Entertainment
Kansas City, KS
$144
Medellin
$58 60% $86
Getting Around
Kansas City, KS
$73
Medellin
$94 28.8% $21

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,498 in Kansas City, KS versus $1,208 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 in Kansas City, KS are about 4.9 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $82 in Kansas City, KS versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $403 vs $297 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Kansas City, KS
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
10:00 10:00 AM
10:00 10:00 AM
Same time as Kansas City, KS
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
463,202
2,486,723
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 3,146 COP (10,000 COP = 3.18 USD). 1 EUR = 3,501 COP (10,000 COP = 2.86 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kansas City, KS Medellin 4,120 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kansas City, KS
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Kansas City, KS vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kansas City, KS or Medellin?
Kansas City, KS costs about 66% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kansas City, KS and in Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,072 per month in Kansas City, KS and $2,459 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kansas City, KS or Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,208 there versus $1,498 in Kansas City, KS.
How do childcare costs compare in Kansas City, KS and in Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $445 per month in Kansas City, KS and $797 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Kansas City, KS or in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 36% more in Kansas City, KS, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Kansas City, KS or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,639, than in Kansas City, KS at $2,714. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kansas City, KS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Kansas City, KS or Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,639 in Medellin to $2,714 in Kansas City, KS. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Should I move to Kansas City, KS or to Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kansas City, KS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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