Cost of Living Comparison Between Kos and MedellinCost of Living Comparison Between Kos and Medellin
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,608 in Kos versus $1,641 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,407 in Kos versus $2,447 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,206 in Kos versus $3,253 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Kos costs roughly 2% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kos17% above, Medellin19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kos
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.19€14.82
$8.04COP 24.8K
113.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.6€65.2
$48.29COP 148.6K
56.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.41€10.70
$9.42COP 29.0K
31.74%
Cappuccino
$4.89€4.21
$2.94COP 9,040
66.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38€2.91
$1.86COP 5,735
81.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13€0.97
$1.46COP 4,479
-22.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.53€3.91
$3.21COP 9,882
41.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.04€6.07
$5.71COP 17.6K
23.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kos
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.42€2.08
$1.44COP 4,428
68.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.64€1.42
$2.40COP 7,389
-31.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.65€2.28
$1.70COP 5,228
55.88%
Eggs
$4.81€4.15
$2.89COP 8,896
66.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.26€12.29
$10.06COP 30.9K
41.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12€8.73
$9.97COP 30.7K
1.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.16€13.07
$14.20COP 43.7K
6.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.05
$3.98COP 12.3K
-40.45%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.92
$1.58COP 4,878
41.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50€1.29
$2.15COP 6,624
-30.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$2.30COP 7,078
-13.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.18€1.02
$2.00COP 6,169
-41.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16€1.00
$1.51COP 4,646
-23.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13€0.98
$1.20COP 3,701
-5.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.77
$1.28COP 3,946
-30.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.39€4.64
$3.84COP 11.8K
40.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.03€6.06
$14.01COP 43.1K
-49.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16€1.86
$1.71COP 5,256
26.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.42
$2.74COP 8,440
2.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Kos
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41€1.21
$1.25COP 3,834
12.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.23€42.44
$77.9COP 239.7K
-36.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.09€3.53
$1.31COP 4,016
212.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08€0.93
$2.17COP 6,680
-50.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.19€14.82
$8.29COP 25.5K
107.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.16€1.86
$1.36COP 4,172
58.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K€25.1K
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
5.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K€22.8K
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-27.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kos
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$213€183
$169COP 519.2K
26.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.32€20.96
$13.57COP 41.8K
79.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.08€31.10
$28.32COP 87.2K
27.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kos
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.4€45.13
$45.71COP 140.7K
14.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.60€22.93
$17.22COP 53.0K
54.47%
Cinema Ticket
$9.41€8.11
$6.65COP 20.5K
41.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kos
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$438€378
$803COP 2.5M
-45.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,914€5,960
$9,190COP 28.3M
-24.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kos
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6€73.8
$87.4COP 268.8K
-2.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.21€34.66
$59.4COP 182.7K
-32.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$139COP 427.5K
-33.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131€113
$102COP 314.0K
28.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kos
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$630€543
$1,071COP 3.3M
-41.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448€386
$653COP 2.0M
-31.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$765€660
$1,925COP 5.9M
-60.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$618€533
$1,048COP 3.2M
-40.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,871€2,475
$4,123COP 12.7M
-30.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,457€2,118
$1,697COP 5.2M
44.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kos
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$935€806
$655COP 2.0M
42.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.44
10.94
-59.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kos: September 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $630 in Kos and $1,071 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kos pays 43% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $76.0 in Kos vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 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
Kos vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kos or Medellin?
Kos wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kos the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kos or in Medellin?
Average pay runs 43% higher in Kos, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kos compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $630 in Kos versus $1,071 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Kos and in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Kos – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Kos compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,608 per month in Kos versus $1,641 in Medellin – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Kos or in Medellin?
At $1,608 in Kos versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kos but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kos or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kos delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,608 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kos hard to pass up.
How safe is Kos compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Kos 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.