😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,996 in Kassel versus $1,030 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,849 in Kassel versus $1,586 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,702 in Kassel versus $2,143 in Medellin.
😐Living in Kassel is roughly 94% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kassel is 49% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.26€13.02
$5.92COP 21.2K
157.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.8€50.1
$33.17COP 118.7K
77.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.34€8.82
$7.25COP 25.9K
42.62%
Cappuccino
$3.58€3.05
$1.71COP 6,137
109.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.29€3.66
$1.09COP 3,915
293.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65€3.11
$0.77COP 2,743
374.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.87€4.15
$1.75COP 6,254
178.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76€4.06
$3.18COP 11.4K
49.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30€1.11
$1.06COP 3,792
22.64%
White Bread(500g)
$2.34€2.00
$1.30COP 4,657
80.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.52€3.00
$1.38COP 4,926
155.07%
Eggs
$3.76€3.21
$2.21COP 7,908
70.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.79€12.61
$4.52COP 16.2K
227.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.64€11.64
$5.80COP 20.7K
135.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.63€19.31
$8.97COP 32.1K
152.29%
Apples(1kg)
$3.20€2.73
$2.29COP 8,182
39.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85€1.58
$1.06COP 3,791
74.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38€2.03
$1.51COP 5,411
57.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.70€4.87
$1.36COP 4,869
319.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70€1.45
$1.16COP 4,146
46.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.17COP 4,174
50.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.64
$0.83COP 2,960
132.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18€1.00
$0.85COP 3,043
38.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.51€8.11
$2.35COP 8,423
304.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.83€4.98
$11.09COP 39.7K
-47.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02€0.87
$1.15COP 4,133
-11.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68€1.44
$2.47COP 8,853
-31.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.51€2.99
$0.79COP 2,827
344.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.0€57.1
$41.85COP 149.8K
60.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.03€3.44
$1.44COP 5,140
179.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92€1.64
$1.90COP 6,793
1.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.11€35.07
$7.70COP 27.6K
433.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.95€1.66
$1.03COP 3,680
89.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8K€27.1K
$17.7KCOP 63.3M
79.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K€28.2K
$27.0KCOP 96.7M
22.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$360€307
$81.4COP 291.4K
342.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.85€30.58
$9.42COP 33.7K
280.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.0€46.04
$23.77COP 85.1K
127.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.54€28.61
$25.86COP 92.6K
29.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.90€13.56
$19.34COP 69.2K
-17.79%
Cinema Ticket
$11.36€9.69
$4.05COP 14.5K
180.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$364€311
$312COP 1.1M
16.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€13.9K
$6,067COP 21.7M
169.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.9€85.2
$58.9COP 210.7K
69.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.2€44.53
$32.82COP 117.5K
59.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€79.8
$100COP 359.6K
-6.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139€119
$106COP 380.3K
30.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$796€679
$490COP 1.8M
62.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$576€492
$371COP 1.3M
55.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,078€919
$838COP 3.0M
28.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$893€762
$715COP 2.6M
24.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,021€5,136
$2,952COP 10.6M
103.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,190€2,721
$1,394COP 5.0M
128.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kassel
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,239€2,763
$532COP 1.9M
508.81%
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: April 22, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $796 in Kassel and $490 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kassel pays 509% 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 in Kassel vs $33 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $362 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 94% 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 509% 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: $796 in Kassel versus $490 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 $1,996 per month in Kassel versus $1,030 in Medellin – a 94% 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 $1,030 in Medellin versus $1,996 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 $1,030 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 94% less than in Kassel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.