๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,395 in Kaลกtela versus $1,013 in Medellin.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,164 in Kaลกtela versus $1,602 in Medellin.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,932 in Kaลกtela versus $2,192 in Medellin.
๐Living in Kaลกtela is roughly 38% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Kaลกtela is 4% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Kaลกtela
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.28โฌ14.00
$5.99COPย 21.4K
171.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.7โฌ69.4
$32.86COPย 117.4K
145.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.51โฌ8.18
$7.09COPย 25.3K
34.13%
Cappuccino
$2.81โฌ2.42
$1.71COPย 6,115
64.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56โฌ3.06
$1.10COPย 3,924
223.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64โฌ2.27
$0.78COPย 2,781
238.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60โฌ3.96
$1.68COPย 5,997
173.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74โฌ3.22
$3.07COPย 11.0K
21.82%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Kaลกtela
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38โฌ1.19
$1.09COPย 3,906
26.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.55โฌ1.33
$1.26COPย 4,508
23.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.03โฌ2.61
$1.38COPย 4,922
119.57%
Eggs
$3.81โฌ3.27
$2.19COPย 7,827
73.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.59โฌ8.25
$4.40COPย 15.7K
117.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.76โฌ8.40
$5.63COPย 20.1K
73.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.55โฌ10.80
$8.89COPย 31.8K
41.17%
Apples(1kg)
$1.69โฌ1.46
$2.34COPย 8,349
-27.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65โฌ1.42
$1.06COPย 3,777
55.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12โฌ1.82
$1.50COPย 5,374
41.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36โฌ2.03
$1.38COPย 4,924
71.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51โฌ1.30
$1.15COPย 4,111
31.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45โฌ1.25
$1.16COPย 4,155
25.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.42โฌ1.22
$0.89COPย 3,182
59.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26โฌ1.08
$0.84COPย 2,997
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.74โฌ4.94
$2.28COPย 8,145
151.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.34โฌ6.31
$10.64COPย 38.0K
-31.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37โฌ1.18
$1.20COPย 4,284
14.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18โฌ1.01
$2.47COPย 8,824
-52.23%
๐ Getting Around
Kaลกtela
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.33โฌ2.00
$0.86COPย 3,056
170.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$37.76โฌ32.48
$41.40COPย 147.9K
-8.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.44โฌ2.96
$1.47COPย 5,264
134.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04โฌ1.76
$1.96COPย 7,009
4.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.29โฌ7.99
$7.74COPย 27.6K
20.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.70โฌ1.47
$0.95COPย 3,409
78.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5Kโฌ33.1K
$18.1KCOPย 64.7M
112.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6Kโฌ22.9K
$26.5KCOPย 94.6M
0.50%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaลกtela
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$184โฌ158
$82.3COPย 293.7K
123.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.06โฌ20.69
$9.50COPย 33.9K
153.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.56โฌ21.99
$24.23COPย 86.5K
5.49%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Kaลกtela
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.6โฌ50.4
$25.89COPย 92.4K
126.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.59โฌ12.55
$19.00COPย 67.9K
-23.21%
Cinema Ticket
$9.29โฌ7.99
$3.93COPย 14.0K
136.39%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Kaลกtela
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$187โฌ161
$309COPย 1.1M
-39.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,402โฌ1,206
$5,965COPย 21.3M
-76.49%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Kaลกtela
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.5โฌ71.8
$58.7COPย 209.5K
42.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.96โฌ24.05
$32.35COPย 115.5K
-13.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107โฌ92.2
$103COPย 366.4K
4.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104โฌ89.4
$108COPย 387.2K
-4.14%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Kaลกtela
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$481โฌ414
$476COPย 1.7M
1.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$346โฌ298
$379COPย 1.4M
-8.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619โฌ532
$838COPย 3.0M
-26.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$554โฌ476
$724COPย 2.6M
-23.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,420โฌ2,942
$2,791COPย 10.0M
22.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,463โฌ2,118
$1,211COPย 4.3M
103.30%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Kaลกtela
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$926โฌ797
$512COPย 1.8M
80.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.35
13.43
-67.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kaลกtela: May 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $481 in Kaลกtela and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐKaลกtela pays 81% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $81.0 in Kaลกtela vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $263 vs $188 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
Kaลกtela vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kaลกtela and Medellin?
Kaลกtela and Medellin differ by about 38% in total monthly costs ($1,395 vs $1,013 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Kaลกtela or Medellin?
Kaลกtela pays 81% 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 do apartment prices compare in Kaลกtela and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $481 in Kaลกtela versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Kaลกtela and Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 10% less than in Kaลกtela. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kaลกtela and Medellin?
Childcare runs $187 in Kaลกtela versus $309 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,395 in Kaลกtela, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Kaลกtela. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kaลกtela and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Kaลกtela or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kaลกtela 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.
Where should expats move: Kaลกtela or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 38% less than in Kaลกtela. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.