Cost of Living Comparison Between Khon Kaen and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Khon Kaen and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $740 per month in Khon Kaen vs $1,028 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,264 per month in Khon Kaen vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,788 per month in Khon Kaen vs $2,144 in Medellin, rent included.

Khon Kaen is about 28% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Khon Kaen and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Khon Kaen 44% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.58 ฿51.5

$6.00 COP 20.6K

-73.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.08 ฿1,010

$32.84 COP 112.5K

-5.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.25 ฿203

$7.42 COP 25.4K

-15.77%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿54.2

$1.65 COP 5,659

1.21%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 ฿21.23

$1.07 COP 3,663

-39.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ฿9.35

$0.76 COP 2,607

-61.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.84 ฿60.0

$1.72 COP 5,908

6.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.66 ฿184

$3.20 COP 11.0K

76.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 ฿54.2

$1.05 COP 3,597

59.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 ฿39.42

$1.31 COP 4,479

-7.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.89 ฿28.94

$1.34 COP 4,591

-33.58%

Eggs

$2.63 ฿85.5

$2.19 COP 7,521

20.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.56 ฿603

$4.41 COP 15.1K

320.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.11 ฿101

$5.69 COP 19.5K

-45.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.89 ฿354

$8.52 COP 29.2K

27.82%

Apples (1kg)

$3.27 ฿106

$2.34 COP 8,023

39.74%

Banana (1kg)

$0.95 ฿30.93

$1.11 COP 3,804

-14.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 ฿49.05

$1.52 COP 5,210

-0.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 ฿40.70

$1.37 COP 4,680

-8.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 ฿58.4

$1.15 COP 3,950

56.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 ฿40.54

$1.18 COP 4,043

5.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 ฿28.95

$0.84 COP 2,885

5.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.76

$0.86 COP 2,931

-39.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.46 ฿145

$2.26 COP 7,753

97.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 COP 39.8K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿57.9

$1.20 COP 4,109

48.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 ฿79.1

$2.48 COP 8,484

-2.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ฿30.94

$0.79 COP 2,721

20.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.83 COP 139.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.05 ฿34.22

$1.47 COP 5,023

-28.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.19 ฿38.81

$1.92 COP 6,568

-38.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 ฿203

$7.77 COP 26.6K

-19.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 ฿42.76

$1.01 COP 3,464

30.69%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$45.6K ฿1.5M

$17.7K COP 60.5M

158.45%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.0K ฿911.3K

$26.5K COP 90.7M

5.99%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$66.0 ฿2,145

$81.1 COP 277.9K

-18.62%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$23.24 ฿755

$9.43 COP 32.3K

146.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.40 ฿760

$23.86 COP 81.8K

-1.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.7 ฿2,037

$25.99 COP 89.1K

141.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.06 ฿392

$18.71 COP 64.1K

-35.54%

Cinema Ticket

$6.26 ฿203

$4.09 COP 14.0K

53.06%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$294 ฿9,547

$315 COP 1.1M

-6.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,316 ฿302.8K

$6,022 COP 20.6M

54.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.70 ฿998

$59.7 COP 204.6K

-48.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.94 ฿1,331

$31.97 COP 109.6K

28.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.6 ฿2,491

$101 COP 346.9K

-24.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.5 ฿2,097

$105 COP 360.3K

-38.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$248 ฿8,047

$485 COP 1.7M

-49.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$167 ฿5,437

$365 COP 1.3M

-54.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$757 ฿24.6K

$827 COP 2.8M

-8.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$439 ฿14.3K

$730 COP 2.5M

-39.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,992 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,314 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$551 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.45

13.43

-59.42%

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

Last update for Khon Kaen: June 16, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $248 in Khon Kaen versus $485 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Khon Kaen versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $213 in Khon Kaen vs $190 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Khon Kaen vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,110 per month in Khon Kaen and $1,542 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Khon Kaen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $740 in Khon Kaen and $1,028 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $294 per month in Khon Kaen and $315 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Khon Kaen, where all-in costs run around $740, than in Medellin at $1,028. In Khon Kaen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Khon Kaen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Khon Kaen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.