😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,941 in Kassel versus $1,018 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,861 in Kassel versus $1,609 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,781 in Kassel versus $2,200 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Kassel is roughly 91% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kassel is 45% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.26€13.42
$5.93COP 18.9K
157.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.9€50.9
$33.12COP 105.7K
74.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.49€9.22
$7.12COP 22.7K
47.33%
Cappuccino
$3.57€3.13
$1.71COP 5,444
108.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.18€3.67
$1.05COP 3,348
298.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68€3.24
$0.72COP 2,306
411.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.06€4.45
$1.72COP 5,488
194.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.73€4.16
$3.17COP 10.1K
49.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30€1.15
$1.06COP 3,400
22.64%
White Bread(500g)
$2.38€2.09
$1.31COP 4,182
81.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.53€3.10
$1.33COP 4,246
165.41%
Eggs
$3.66€3.22
$2.28COP 7,281
60.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.51€12.76
$4.42COP 14.1K
228.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.65€12.00
$5.92COP 18.9K
130.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.13€19.46
$8.64COP 27.6K
156.13%
Apples(1kg)
$3.19€2.80
$2.34COP 7,486
36.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85€1.63
$1.10COP 3,518
68.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30€2.02
$1.47COP 4,687
56.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.52€4.85
$1.38COP 4,405
300.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.72€1.51
$1.17COP 3,745
47.01%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.58
$1.17COP 3,735
53.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94€1.71
$0.90COP 2,883
115.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18€1.04
$0.84COP 2,687
40.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.68€8.51
$2.33COP 7,431
315.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.79€5.09
$11.92COP 38.0K
-51.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03€0.91
$1.15COP 3,665
-10.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69€1.49
$2.42COP 7,730
-30.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.63€3.20
$0.84COP 2,681
332.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.9€59.7
$40.83COP 130.3K
66.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.99€3.51
$1.41COP 4,506
182.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.89€1.66
$1.91COP 6,112
-1.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.10€37.02
$7.83COP 25.0K
437.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.76
$0.94COP 3,013
113.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7K€27.9K
$17.8KCOP 56.9M
77.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K€29.3K
$27.1KCOP 86.5M
23.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$362€318
$83.3COP 265.8K
334.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.14€30.90
$9.66COP 30.8K
263.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6€47.13
$24.22COP 77.3K
121.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.53€29.48
$25.22COP 80.5K
32.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.88€13.96
$19.33COP 61.7K
-17.85%
Cinema Ticket
$11.35€9.98
$4.07COP 13.0K
178.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$367€322
$307COP 978.8K
19.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.8K€14.8K
$5,981COP 19.1M
180.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.3€87.3
$60.0COP 191.4K
65.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.6€45.36
$32.65COP 104.2K
58.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.1€81.9
$101COP 322.7K
-7.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139€123
$108COP 344.9K
29.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$803€706
$476COP 1.5M
68.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$567€499
$379COP 1.2M
49.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,055€928
$816COP 2.6M
29.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$886€779
$707COP 2.3M
25.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,640€4,959
$3,190COP 10.2M
76.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,065€2,695
$1,446COP 4.6M
111.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,591€2,278
$622COP 2.0M
316.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.98
13.43
-70.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kassel: July 19, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $803 in Kassel and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kassel pays 317% 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: $58.0 in Kassel vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $358 vs $192 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
Kassel vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kassel or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 91% lower than in Kassel. 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 Kassel or in Medellin?
Average pay runs 317% higher in Kassel, 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 Kassel compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $803 in Kassel versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Kassel and in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $58.0 in Kassel. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Kassel compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,941 per month in Kassel versus $1,018 in Medellin – a 91% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Kassel or in Medellin?
At $1,018 in Medellin versus $1,941 in Kassel, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Kassel. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kassel or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,018 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Kassel compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Kassel 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 91% less than in Kassel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.