😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,124 in Krefeld versus $1,716 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,192 in Krefeld versus $2,527 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,260 in Krefeld versus $3,338 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Krefeld is roughly 24% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Krefeld55% above, Medellin25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Krefeld
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.20€14.78
$8.03COP 25.2K
114.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.0€63.6
$48.26COP 151.7K
53.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.67€10.03
$9.77COP 30.7K
19.45%
Cappuccino
$4.32€3.72
$2.91COP 9,149
48.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87€3.33
$1.94COP 6,110
99.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30€2.84
$1.52COP 4,783
117.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.86€5.04
$3.09COP 9,721
89.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.26€4.53
$5.74COP 18.1K
-8.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Krefeld
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.36COP 4,287
-5.15%
White Bread(500g)
$2.12€1.82
$2.39COP 7,505
-11.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.84€3.30
$1.70COP 5,346
125.88%
Eggs
$3.88€3.33
$2.87COP 9,021
35.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.00€12.04
$9.94COP 31.2K
40.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.08€10.39
$10.78COP 33.9K
12.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$26.09€22.43
$14.73COP 46.3K
77.12%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24€2.78
$4.09COP 12.8K
-20.78%
Banana(1kg)
$2.14€1.84
$1.57COP 4,940
36.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.56€2.20
$2.13COP 6,682
20.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.33€3.73
$2.21COP 6,959
95.93%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39€1.20
$2.05COP 6,435
-32.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22€1.05
$1.50COP 4,728
-18.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.68€1.44
$1.19COP 3,740
41.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07€0.92
$1.16COP 3,640
-7.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.92€8.52
$3.90COP 12.2K
154.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.91
$14.44COP 45.4K
-60.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10€0.95
$1.58COP 4,978
-30.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67€1.43
$2.83COP 8,889
-40.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Krefeld
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.57€3.07
$1.17COP 3,672
205.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.2€52.6
$77.7COP 244.3K
-21.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.13€4.41
$1.28COP 4,038
300.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.33€2.00
$2.09COP 6,576
11.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.44€29.61
$8.62COP 27.1K
299.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.16€1.85
$1.30COP 4,080
66.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6K€28.9K
$27.7KCOP 86.9M
21.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.2K€34.6K
$35.5KCOP 111.6M
13.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Krefeld
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$415€357
$176COP 553.4K
135.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.08€23.28
$13.37COP 42.0K
102.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.11€36.20
$29.89COP 94.0K
40.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Krefeld
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.53€35.71
$44.76COP 140.7K
-7.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.04€25.83
$17.06COP 53.6K
76.08%
Cinema Ticket
$14.04€12.07
$6.20COP 19.5K
126.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Krefeld
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$469€403
$793COP 2.5M
-40.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.0K€20.6K
$9,019COP 28.4M
166.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Krefeld
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.5€78.7
$85.6COP 269.1K
6.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.75€36.75
$58.5COP 183.8K
-26.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107€91.6
$136COP 428.4K
-21.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135€116
$103COP 324.1K
30.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Krefeld
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$751€646
$1,060COP 3.3M
-29.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$616€530
$680COP 2.1M
-9.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,451€1,247
$2,012COP 6.3M
-27.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,140€980
$1,169COP 3.7M
-2.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,413€2,934
$4,111COP 12.9M
-16.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,735€4,070
$1,701COP 5.3M
178.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Krefeld
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,025€1,741
$665COP 2.1M
204.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.96
10.94
-63.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Krefeld: August 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $751 in Krefeld and $1,060 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Krefeld pays 204% 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: $74.0 in Krefeld vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $353 vs $303 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
Krefeld vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Krefeld?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Krefeld or Medellin?
Average pay runs 204% higher in Krefeld, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Krefeld and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $751 in Krefeld versus $1,060 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Krefeld and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,124 per month in Krefeld versus $1,716 in Medellin – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 27% less than in Krefeld. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Krefeld or in Medellin?
At $1,716 in Medellin versus $2,124 in Krefeld, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Krefeld. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Krefeld or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Krefeld, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Krefeld or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Krefeld 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 Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Krefeld. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.