Cost of Living Comparison Between Kansas City, KS and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Kansas City, KS and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,664 per month in Kansas City, KS vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,963 per month in Kansas City, KS vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,262 per month in Kansas City, KS vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Kansas City, KS costs about 162% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Kansas City, KS sits 98% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kansas City, KS
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.92 $19.92
$5.95 COP 20.6K
234.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.3 $64.3
$33.33 COP 115.1K
93.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.21 $12.21
$7.23 COP 25.0K
68.88%
Cappuccino
$5.21 $5.21
$1.63 COP 5,629
219.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$1.09 COP 3,782
113.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 $1.92
$0.73 COP 2,522
163.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.98 $4.98
$1.74 COP 6,003
186.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.20 $7.20
$3.23 COP 11.2K
122.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kansas City, KS
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.05 COP 3,625
-9.52%
White Bread (500g)
$3.42 $3.42
$1.29 COP 4,469
165.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.03 $5.03
$1.32 COP 4,570
281.06%
Eggs
$4.38 $4.38
$2.27 COP 7,846
92.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.64 $10.64
$4.35 COP 15.0K
144.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.03 $11.03
$5.88 COP 20.3K
87.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.67 $12.67
$8.61 COP 29.7K
47.15%
Apples (1kg)
$5.30 $5.30
$2.25 COP 7,763
135.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.07 COP 3,695
83.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.51 $6.51
$1.52 COP 5,267
328.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.62 $5.62
$1.42 COP 4,914
295.77%
Potato (1kg)
$4.38 $4.38
$1.17 COP 4,042
274.36%
Onion (1kg)
$3.67 $3.67
$1.17 COP 4,035
213.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 $2.24
$0.89 COP 3,064
151.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.32 $2.32
$0.90 COP 3,114
157.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.84 $9.84
$2.25 COP 7,757
337.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.19 $17.19
$11.04 COP 38.1K
55.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 $1.74
$1.14 COP 3,936
52.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.34 $5.34
$2.38 COP 8,216
124.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Kansas City, KS
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.84 COP 2,886
77.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.0 $55.0
$41.95 COP 144.9K
31.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.02 $5.02
$1.41 COP 4,861
256.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.90 COP 6,567
-16.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.89 $41.89
$7.75 COP 26.8K
440.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$1.01 COP 3,473
-22.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K $30.7K
$17.6K COP 60.7M
74.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$26.5K COP 91.5M
-3.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kansas City, KS
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$194 $194
$83.7 COP 289.1K
132.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.5 $54.5
$9.45 COP 32.6K
476.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.8 $52.8
$24.11 COP 83.3K
119.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kansas City, KS
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$115 $115
$25.31 COP 87.4K
355.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.8 $63.8
$19.14 COP 66.1K
233.49%
Cinema Ticket
$15.15 $15.15
$4.10 COP 14.2K
269.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kansas City, KS
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,089 $1,089
$312 COP 1.1M
249.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.5K $28.5K
$5,993 COP 20.7M
375.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kansas City, KS
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 $49.33
$58.0 COP 200.5K
-15.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39 $35.39
$32.56 COP 112.5K
8.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.0 $90.0
$99.6 COP 344.1K
-9.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 $125
$109 COP 375.0K
14.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kansas City, KS
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,340 $1,340
$482 COP 1.7M
177.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,334 $1,334
$379 COP 1.3M
251.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,438 $3,438
$837 COP 2.9M
310.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,138 $2,138
$723 COP 2.5M
195.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,204 $2,204
$2,840 COP 9.8M
-22.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,175 $2,175
$1,223 COP 4.2M
77.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kansas City, KS
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,115 $3,115
$541 COP 1.9M
475.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
13.43
-51.30%

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

Last update for Kansas City, KS: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,340 in Kansas City, KS 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 476% higher in Kansas City, KS, 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 $64.0 in Kansas City, KS versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $410 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
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 162% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 vs Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,996 per month in Kansas City, KS and $1,525 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Kansas City, KS and Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $1,089 per month in Kansas City, KS and $312 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 Medellin?
Groceries cost about 116% 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 $1,500/month in Kansas City, KS or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Kansas City, KS at $2,664. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kansas City, KS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kansas City, KS or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,017 versus $2,664 in Kansas City, KS. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Kansas City, KS or 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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