🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $384 in Kohima versus $1,013 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $617 in Kohima versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $851 in Kohima versus $2,192 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Kohima costs roughly 62% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kohima71% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kohima
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.39₹133
$5.99COP 21.4K
-76.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.00₹957
$32.86COP 117.2K
-69.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.97₹380
$7.09COP 25.3K
-44.01%
Cappuccino
$1.65₹158
$1.71COP 6,105
-3.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36₹34.50
$1.10COP 3,918
-67.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.12₹11.43
$0.78COP 2,776
-84.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.44₹137
$1.68COP 5,987
-14.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19₹305
$3.07COP 10.9K
3.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kohima
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.71₹67.9
$1.09COP 3,899
-34.86%
White Bread(500g)
$0.46₹44.17
$1.26COP 4,500
-63.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.58₹55.6
$1.38COP 4,914
-57.97%
Eggs
$0.91₹86.7
$2.19COP 7,813
-58.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.10₹296
$4.40COP 15.7K
-29.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.35₹321
$5.63COP 20.1K
-40.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$8.89COP 31.7K
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.89₹181
$2.34COP 8,334
-19.23%
Banana(1kg)
$0.75₹71.3
$1.06COP 3,771
-29.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.91₹87.4
$1.50COP 5,365
-39.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.78₹75.0
$1.38COP 4,915
-43.48%
Potato(1kg)
$0.31₹29.87
$1.15COP 4,104
-73.04%
Onion(1kg)
$0.36₹34.26
$1.16COP 4,148
-68.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.37₹34.96
$0.89COP 3,176
-58.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28₹26.49
$0.84COP 2,992
-66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.37₹227
$2.28COP 8,131
3.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.00₹670
$10.64COP 37.9K
-34.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53₹146
$1.20COP 4,276
27.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76₹264
$2.47COP 8,809
11.74%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$3.46₹331
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kohima
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28₹26.72
$0.86COP 3,051
-67.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.69₹831
$41.40COP 147.6K
-79.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.77₹73.4
$1.47COP 5,255
-47.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.24₹22.95
$1.96COP 6,997
-87.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.42₹136
$7.74COP 27.6K
-81.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11₹107
$0.95COP 3,403
16.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9K₹1.3M
$18.1KCOP 64.6M
-23.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.0K₹1.7M
$26.5KCOP 94.4M
-32.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kohima
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69₹3,894
$82.3COP 293.2K
-50.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.45₹330
$9.50COP 33.9K
-63.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.73₹548
$24.23COP 86.4K
-76.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kohima
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.94₹1,526
$25.89COP 92.3K
-38.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.16₹685
$19.00COP 67.7K
-62.32%
Cinema Ticket
$2.90₹277
$3.93COP 14.0K
-26.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kohima
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$32.34₹3,095
$309COP 1.1M
-89.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,962₹187.8K
$5,965COP 21.3M
-67.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kohima
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.23₹2,414
$58.7COP 209.1K
-56.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.40₹3,387
$32.35COP 115.3K
9.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$47.00₹4,497
$103COP 365.7K
-54.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.69₹4,086
$108COP 386.5K
-60.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kohima
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$126₹12.1K
$476COP 1.7M
-73.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$75.0₹7,175
$379COP 1.4M
-80.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$279₹26.7K
$838COP 3.0M
-66.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$179₹17.2K
$724COP 2.6M
-75.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$874₹83.6K
$2,791COP 9.9M
-68.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$585₹56.0K
$1,211COP 4.3M
-51.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kohima
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$205₹19.6K
$512COP 1.8M
-60.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.38
13.43
-45.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kohima: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $126 in Kohima and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 150% 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: $10.00 in Kohima vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $99.0 vs $188 per month, with Kohima 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
Kohima vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Kohima?
Kohima is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 164% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kohima or Medellin?
On paper, Medellin earns 150% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Kohima and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $126 in Kohima versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Kohima or Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Kohima – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Kohima vs Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $384 per month in Kohima versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 164% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Kohima or Medellin?
At $384 in Kohima versus $1,013 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kohima but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kohima the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Kohima or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Kohima is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Kohima or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Kohima 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Kohima gentler on the wallet – expenses run 164% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.