Cost of Living Comparison Between Kelowna and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Kelowna and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,414 in Kelowna versus $1,641 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,520 in Kelowna versus $2,447 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,625 in Kelowna versus $3,253 in Medellin.

Living in Kelowna is roughly 47% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kelowna 75% above, Medellin 19% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kelowna
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08 CA$23.68
$8.04 COP 24.8K
112.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.1 CA$82.0
$48.29 COP 148.6K
22.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.38 CA$15.78
$9.42 COP 29.0K
20.81%
Cappuccino
$4.20 CA$5.82
$2.94 COP 9,040
42.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 CA$2.81
$1.86 COP 5,735
9.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 CA$2.37
$1.46 COP 4,479
17.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.82 CA$6.68
$3.21 COP 9,882
50.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.67 CA$7.87
$5.71 COP 17.6K
-0.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kelowna
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.09 CA$2.89
$1.44 COP 4,428
45.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.90 CA$4.02
$2.40 COP 7,389
20.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.48 CA$4.83
$1.70 COP 5,228
104.71%
Eggs
$3.31 CA$4.59
$2.89 COP 8,896
14.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.35 CA$12.97
$10.06 COP 30.9K
-7.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.43 CA$18.62
$9.97 COP 30.7K
34.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.72 CA$30.13
$14.20 COP 43.7K
52.96%
Apples (1kg)
$3.51 CA$4.87
$3.98 COP 12.3K
-11.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 CA$2.11
$1.58 COP 4,878
-3.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.56 CA$4.93
$2.15 COP 6,624
65.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.89 CA$6.78
$2.30 COP 7,078
112.61%
Potato (1kg)
$3.12 CA$4.33
$2.00 COP 6,169
56.00%
Onion (1kg)
$3.21 CA$4.45
$1.51 COP 4,646
112.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.63 CA$3.64
$1.20 COP 3,701
119.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 CA$2.70
$1.28 COP 3,946
52.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.35 CA$19.90
$3.84 COP 11.8K
273.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.80 CA$19.14
$14.01 COP 43.1K
-1.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.67 CA$3.70
$1.71 COP 5,256
56.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 CA$4.30
$2.74 COP 8,440
13.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Kelowna
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.77 CA$2.45
$1.25 COP 3,834
41.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.5 CA$70.0
$77.9 COP 239.7K
-35.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.87 CA$3.98
$1.31 COP 4,016
119.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 CA$2.55
$2.17 COP 6,680
-15.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.55 CA$47.92
$8.29 COP 25.5K
316.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 CA$1.68
$1.36 COP 4,172
-11.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K CA$39.4K
$27.5K COP 84.5M
3.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.6K CA$25.8K
$36.5K COP 112.4M
-49.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kelowna
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$129 CA$179
$169 COP 519.2K
-23.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.25 CA$64.1
$13.57 COP 41.8K
240.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.5 CA$79.7
$28.32 COP 87.2K
102.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kelowna
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.6 CA$79.9
$45.71 COP 140.7K
25.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.93 CA$42.89
$17.22 COP 53.0K
79.62%
Cinema Ticket
$12.19 CA$16.90
$6.65 COP 20.5K
83.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kelowna
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,050 CA$1,456
$803 COP 2.5M
30.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K CA$23.0K
$9,190 COP 28.3M
80.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kelowna
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.4 CA$69.8
$87.4 COP 268.8K
-42.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.38 CA$57.4
$59.4 COP 182.7K
-30.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.7 CA$120
$139 COP 427.5K
-37.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 CA$143
$102 COP 314.0K
1.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kelowna
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,349 CA$1,871
$1,071 COP 3.3M
26.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,214 CA$1,683
$653 COP 2.0M
85.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,339 CA$3,244
$1,925 COP 5.9M
21.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,005 CA$2,781
$1,048 COP 3.2M
91.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,995 CA$5,540
$4,123 COP 12.7M
-3.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,224 CA$4,471
$1,697 COP 5.2M
89.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kelowna
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,062 CA$4,246
$655 COP 2.0M
367.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.69
10.94
-57.13%

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

Last update for Kelowna: September 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,349 in Kelowna and $1,071 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kelowna pays 367% 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 Kelowna vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $400 vs $300 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
Kelowna vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kelowna and in Medellin?
Kelowna and Medellin differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($2,414 vs $1,641 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Kelowna or Medellin?
Average pay runs 367% higher in Kelowna, 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 Kelowna and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,349 in Kelowna versus $1,071 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Kelowna or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,414 per month in Kelowna versus $1,641 in Medellin – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Kelowna and in Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 54% less than in Kelowna. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,641 in Medellin versus $2,414 in Kelowna, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Kelowna. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kelowna and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Kelowna or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kelowna 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: Kelowna or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Kelowna. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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