🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $453 in Machakos versus $1,034 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $752 in Machakos versus $1,577 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,051 in Machakos versus $2,120 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Machakos costs roughly 56% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Machakos66% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Machakos
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.34KES 302
$5.92COP 21.4K
-60.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.88KES 5,018
$32.75COP 118.2K
18.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.85KES 884
$7.20COP 26.0K
-4.86%
Cappuccino
$1.99KES 257
$1.70COP 6,140
17.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74KES 95.7
$1.10COP 3,966
-32.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50KES 64.9
$0.72COP 2,605
-30.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.91KES 247
$1.67COP 6,022
14.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70KES 348
$3.10COP 11.2K
-12.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Machakos
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.38KES 48.71
$1.06COP 3,809
-64.15%
White Bread(500g)
$0.45KES 57.8
$1.25COP 4,497
-64.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.81KES 104
$1.39COP 5,022
-41.73%
Eggs
$1.35KES 175
$2.26COP 8,168
-40.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.65KES 1,504
$4.33COP 15.6K
169.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.69KES 864
$5.84COP 21.1K
14.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.57KES 590
$8.83COP 31.9K
-48.24%
Apples(1kg)
$1.53KES 197
$2.24COP 8,099
-31.70%
Banana(1kg)
$0.73KES 94.5
$1.08COP 3,882
-32.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.41KES 52.4
$1.53COP 5,522
-73.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.37KES 48.38
$1.37COP 4,950
-72.99%
Potato(1kg)
$0.78KES 101
$1.13COP 4,078
-30.97%
Onion(1kg)
$0.75KES 97.4
$1.12COP 4,036
-33.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65KES 84.0
$0.85COP 3,057
-23.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41KES 52.8
$0.91COP 3,281
-54.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.01KES 388
$2.33COP 8,414
29.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.72KES 1,512
$11.13COP 40.2K
5.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98KES 255
$1.19COP 4,309
66.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73KES 353
$2.37COP 8,553
15.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Machakos
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.79COP 2,838
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.13COP 148.5K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.75KES 97.1
$1.44COP 5,184
-47.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80KES 104
$1.91COP 6,901
-58.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.97KES 383
$8.02COP 28.9K
-62.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45KES 187
$0.94COP 3,385
54.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9KKES 2.8M
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
22.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2KKES 2.6M
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
-24.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Machakos
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$33.86KES 4,370
$84.0COP 303.1K
-59.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.93KES 1,023
$9.60COP 34.7K
-17.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.71KES 1,511
$24.16COP 87.2K
-51.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Machakos
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.88COP 93.4K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04COP 68.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.05KES 781
$3.92COP 14.1K
54.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Machakos
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$45.51KES 5,874
$306COP 1.1M
-85.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,077KES 1.0M
$5,919COP 21.4M
36.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Machakos
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.55KES 1,491
$57.9COP 209.1K
-80.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.37KES 3,145
$31.82COP 114.9K
-23.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.4KES 8,570
$99.9COP 360.6K
-33.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.37KES 4,952
$107COP 386.8K
-64.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Machakos
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$92.4KES 11.9K
$487COP 1.8M
-81.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$69.9KES 9,021
$368COP 1.3M
-81.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$154KES 19.8K
$826COP 3.0M
-81.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$115KES 14.8K
$716COP 2.6M
-83.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,925COP 10.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Machakos
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$389KES 50.2K
$546COP 2.0M
-28.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.84
13.43
10.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Machakos: April 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $92.4 in Machakos and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 40% 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: $39.00 in Machakos vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $165 vs $190, with Machakos cheaper for home cooking.
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
Machakos vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Machakos or Medellin?
Machakos wins on cost – living expenses run 128% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Machakos the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Machakos or Medellin?
On paper, Medellin earns 40% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Machakos vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $92.4 in Machakos versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Machakos or Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Machakos compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $453 per month in Machakos versus $1,034 in Medellin – a 128% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Machakos or Medellin?
At $453 in Machakos versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Machakos but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Machakos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Machakos or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Machakos delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $453 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Machakos hard to pass up.
How safe is Machakos compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Machakos 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 Machakos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 128% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.