Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kish and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Kish: $552 a month against $1,692 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $13,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Kish, Iran
Medellin, Colombia
Kish
🇮🇷 Iran
$552
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kish and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kish and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $552 in Kish versus $1,692 in Medellin.

  • Kish $552
  • Medellin $1,692

Estimated couple costs with rent: $875 in Kish versus $2,471 in Medellin.

  • Kish $875
  • Medellin $2,471

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,199 in Kish versus $3,249 in Medellin.

  • Kish $1,199
  • Medellin $3,249

Living in Kish costs roughly 67% less than in Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kish is 59% below, Medellin is 25% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kish
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.48 $5.48
$8.34 COP 26.9K
-34.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.71 $15.71
$46.53 COP 150.3K
-66.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.62 $4.62
$9.47 COP 30.6K
-51.21%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.73 $0.73
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 $1.07
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.12 $1.12
$3.13 COP 10.1K
-64.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 $0.51
$1.77 COP 5,705
-71.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.42 COP 4,601
-30.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.15 COP 10.2K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.70 COP 18.4K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kish
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.65 $0.65
$1.53 COP 4,950
-57.52%
White Bread (500g)
$0.48 $0.48
$2.29 COP 7,401
-79.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.94 COP 6,282
6.19%
Eggs
$1.18 $1.18
$3.07 COP 9,905
-61.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$9.99 COP 32.3K
-55.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.29 $3.29
$10.45 COP 33.7K
-68.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.32 $10.32
$13.96 COP 45.1K
-26.07%
Apples (1kg)
$1.02 $1.02
$4.05 COP 13.1K
-74.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.53 COP 4,937
1.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.82 $0.82
$2.10 COP 6,797
-60.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.57 $0.57
$2.29 COP 7,409
-75.11%
Potato (1kg)
$0.57 $0.57
$2.11 COP 6,813
-72.99%
Onion (1kg)
$0.47 $0.47
$1.71 COP 5,521
-72.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.57 $0.57
$1.17 COP 3,780
-51.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.24 $0.24
$1.58 COP 5,104
-84.81%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.77 $0.77
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 $0.51
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 $1.39
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.91 COP 12.6K
-35.29%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$14.04 COP 45.4K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.76 COP 5,690
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.71 COP 8,760
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kish
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.14 $0.14
$1.18 COP 3,811
-88.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.34 $9.34
$76.3 COP 246.4K
-87.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.42 $0.42
$1.81 COP 5,836
-76.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 $0.29
$2.13 COP 6,878
-86.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.65 $2.65
$8.13 COP 26.3K
-67.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.08 $0.08
$1.28 COP 4,119
-93.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.7K $49.7K
$34.4K COP 111.2M
44.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.2K $45.2K
$34.1K COP 110.3M
32.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kish
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$12.87 $12.87
$178 COP 574.1K
-92.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.58 $1.58
$13.89 COP 44.9K
-88.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$3.87 $3.87
$30.74 COP 99.3K
-87.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kish
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.46 $18.46
$41.94 COP 135.5K
-55.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.21 $13.21
$16.80 COP 54.3K
-21.37%
Cinema Ticket
$2.05 $2.05
$7.47 COP 24.1K
-72.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kish
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$108 $108
$790 COP 2.6M
-86.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,376 $2,376
$12.3K COP 39.7M
-80.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kish
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.77 $22.77
$86.3 COP 278.9K
-73.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.28 $28.28
$59.3 COP 191.4K
-52.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.6 $98.6
$138 COP 446.9K
-28.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 $73.3
$98.8 COP 319.2K
-25.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kish
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$288 $288
$1,341 COP 4.3M
-78.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$208 $208
$667 COP 2.2M
-68.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 $801
$1,976 COP 6.4M
-59.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$360 $360
$1,033 COP 3.3M
-65.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,135 $1,135
$4,098 COP 13.2M
-72.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$534 $534
$1,940 COP 6.3M
-72.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kish
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$412 $412
$646 COP 2.1M
-36.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
24.3
10.94
122.12%

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

Last update for Kish: November 2, 2026

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kish
$208
Medellin
$667 220% $459
Groceries & Markets
Kish
$113
Medellin
$307 172% $194
Clothing & Footwear
Kish
$100
Medellin
$172 71.7% $72
Eating Out
Kish
$77
Medellin
$173 124% $95
Sport & Entertainment
Kish
$23
Medellin
$57 152% $34
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kish
$18
Medellin
$222 1114% $204
Getting Around
Kish
$12
Medellin
$93 694% $82

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $288 in Kish and $1,341 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 57% 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: $16 in Kish vs $47 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $113 vs $307 per month, with Kish cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇷 Kish
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
13:37 1:37 PM
05:07 5:07 AM
8 h 30 min behind Kish
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
24,819
2,486,723
💱 Currency
USD USD
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, EUR to USD – USD Converter

USD exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3,230 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,628 COP (10,000 COP = 2.76 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kish Medellin 13,470 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kish
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Kish vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kish and in Medellin?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $552 in Kish and $1,692 in Medellin, so Kish is about 67% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 36% lower in Kish. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Kish and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $288 in Kish versus $1,341 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 172% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Kish – a meal for two runs $16 versus $47 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $552 in Kish versus $1,692 in Medellin, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Kish but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kish the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kish 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.
Where should expats move: Kish or Medellin?
Expats usually find Kish gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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