🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $365 in Kohima versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $570 in Kohima versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $774 in Kohima versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Kohima costs roughly 78% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kohima is 73% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kohima
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.35₹225
$8.02COP 25.0K
-70.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.67₹832
$47.87COP 149.4K
-81.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.63₹348
$9.89COP 30.8K
-63.30%
Cappuccino
$1.55₹149
$3.13COP 9,767
-50.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44₹41.82
$1.91COP 5,954
-76.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.10₹9.39
$1.51COP 4,712
-93.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.22₹117
$3.12COP 9,747
-60.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35₹321
$5.75COP 17.9K
-41.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kohima
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.62₹59.5
$1.44COP 4,509
-56.94%
White Bread(500g)
$0.43₹41.38
$2.49COP 7,759
-82.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.54₹52.1
$1.77COP 5,535
-69.49%
Eggs
$0.85₹81.3
$2.96COP 9,235
-71.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.79₹268
$10.07COP 31.4K
-72.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.27₹314
$10.12COP 31.6K
-67.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$14.30COP 44.6K
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.27₹218
$4.14COP 12.9K
-45.17%
Banana(1kg)
$0.71₹67.7
$1.61COP 5,019
-55.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.90₹86.0
$2.25COP 7,007
-60.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.65₹62.8
$2.25COP 7,028
-71.11%
Potato(1kg)
$0.32₹30.89
$2.04COP 6,375
-84.31%
Onion(1kg)
$0.34₹32.47
$1.54COP 4,790
-77.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.31₹29.70
$1.17COP 3,651
-73.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27₹25.90
$1.31COP 4,077
-79.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.13₹205
$3.90COP 12.2K
-45.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.06₹677
$14.01COP 43.7K
-49.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64₹157
$1.74COP 5,439
-5.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48₹238
$2.87COP 8,956
-13.59%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$3.12₹299
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kohima
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23₹22.50
$1.22COP 3,792
-81.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.24₹694
$80.5COP 251.1K
-91.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73₹69.6
$1.31COP 4,084
-44.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30₹29.00
$2.19COP 6,825
-86.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.28₹122
$8.71COP 27.2K
-85.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.04₹100
$1.37COP 4,260
-24.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.6K₹1.2M
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
-54.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.2K₹1.6M
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
-54.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kohima
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$34.86₹3,344
$177COP 553.2K
-80.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.32₹319
$13.88COP 43.3K
-76.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.35₹609
$29.72COP 92.8K
-78.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kohima
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.06₹1,349
$44.88COP 140.1K
-68.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.71₹644
$17.12COP 53.4K
-60.81%
Cinema Ticket
$3.21₹308
$6.65COP 20.7K
-51.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kohima
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$27.76₹2,663
$813COP 2.5M
-96.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,198₹210.9K
$9,187COP 28.7M
-76.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kohima
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.29₹1,658
$89.5COP 279.3K
-80.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.32₹3,005
$59.0COP 184.0K
-46.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$37.33₹3,581
$138COP 431.2K
-72.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.76₹2,567
$102COP 318.7K
-73.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kohima
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$124₹11.9K
$1,062COP 3.3M
-88.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$62.8₹6,029
$663COP 2.1M
-90.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$228₹21.9K
$1,888COP 5.9M
-87.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$163₹15.7K
$1,027COP 3.2M
-84.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$970₹93.1K
$4,183COP 13.1M
-76.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$541₹51.9K
$1,675COP 5.2M
-67.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kohima
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$202₹19.4K
$678COP 2.1M
-70.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.38
10.94
-32.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kohima: September 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $124 in Kohima and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 235% 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: $9.00 in Kohima vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $305 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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 361% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kohima or Medellin?
On paper, salaries run 235% lower in Medellin. 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: $124 in Kohima versus $1,062 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Kohima or in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Kohima – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Kohima and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $365 per month in Kohima versus $1,681 in Medellin – a 361% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Kohima or in Medellin?
At $365 in Kohima versus $1,681 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 361% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.