😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,934 in Kassel versus $1,017 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,829 in Kassel versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,723 in Kassel versus $2,188 in Medellin.
😐Living in Kassel is roughly 90% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kassel is 44% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.03€12.98
$5.95COP 20.7K
152.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.5€50.5
$33.33COP 116.1K
75.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.36€8.95
$7.23COP 25.2K
43.29%
Cappuccino
$3.57€3.08
$1.63COP 5,676
119.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.12€3.56
$1.09COP 3,813
277.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55€3.06
$0.73COP 2,543
386.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.97€4.29
$1.74COP 6,053
185.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.78€4.13
$3.23COP 11.3K
47.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31€1.13
$1.05COP 3,655
24.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.34€2.02
$1.29COP 4,506
81.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.66€3.16
$1.32COP 4,608
177.27%
Eggs
$3.78€3.26
$2.27COP 7,912
66.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.63€12.64
$4.35COP 15.1K
236.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.59€11.73
$5.88COP 20.5K
131.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.39€19.33
$8.61COP 30.0K
160.05%
Apples(1kg)
$3.12€2.69
$2.25COP 7,828
38.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.07COP 3,725
71.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.36€2.04
$1.52COP 5,311
55.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.64€4.87
$1.42COP 4,955
297.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.53
$1.17COP 4,076
51.28%
Onion(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$1.17COP 4,069
45.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.02€1.74
$0.89COP 3,090
126.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20€1.03
$0.90COP 3,140
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.58€8.27
$2.25COP 7,821
325.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.70€4.92
$11.04COP 38.5K
-48.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02€0.88
$1.14COP 3,969
-10.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71€1.47
$2.38COP 8,285
-28.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.54€3.06
$0.84COP 2,910
321.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.6€58.4
$41.95COP 146.1K
61.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.99€3.45
$1.41COP 4,902
182.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.86€1.60
$1.90COP 6,621
-2.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.20€35.58
$7.75COP 27.0K
431.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.72
$1.01COP 3,502
97.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.5K€27.2K
$17.6KCOP 61.2M
79.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.6K
$26.5KCOP 92.3M
24.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$356€308
$83.7COP 291.5K
326.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.32€31.36
$9.45COP 32.9K
284.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1€45.87
$24.11COP 84.0K
120.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.50€28.93
$25.31COP 88.2K
32.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.14€13.94
$19.14COP 66.7K
-15.67%
Cinema Ticket
$11.69€10.09
$4.10COP 14.3K
185.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$366€316
$312COP 1.1M
17.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.7K€14.4K
$5,993COP 20.9M
179.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.4€84.1
$58.0COP 202.2K
67.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.1€44.95
$32.56COP 113.4K
59.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.7€80.0
$99.6COP 347.0K
-6.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137€118
$109COP 378.1K
25.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$818€707
$482COP 1.7M
69.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$571€493
$379COP 1.3M
50.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063€918
$837COP 2.9M
26.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$889€768
$723COP 2.5M
22.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,973€5,158
$2,840COP 9.9M
110.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,088€2,667
$1,223COP 4.3M
152.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,226€2,786
$541COP 1.9M
496.43%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $818 in Kassel and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kassel pays 496% 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: $59.0 in Kassel vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $361 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
Kassel vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kassel or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 90% 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 Medellin?
Kassel pays 496% 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 Kassel vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $818 in Kassel versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Kassel vs Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $59.0 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 $1,934 per month in Kassel versus $1,017 in Medellin – a 90% 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 Medellin?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,934 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 $1,017 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 90% less than in Kassel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.