Cost of Living Comparison Between Malindi and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Malindi and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $350 per month in Malindi vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $573 per month in Malindi vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $796 per month in Malindi vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Malindi is about 66% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Malindi and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Malindi 74% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 KES 277

$5.92 COP 21.4K

-63.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.23 KES 4,030

$32.75 COP 118.2K

-4.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 KES 205

$1.10 COP 3,966

44.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 KES 117

$0.72 COP 2,605

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 KES 451

$1.67 COP 6,022

109.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 KES 458

$3.10 COP 11.2K

14.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 KES 127

$1.06 COP 3,809

-7.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 KES 156

$1.39 COP 5,022

-12.95%

Eggs

$2.99 KES 386

$2.26 COP 8,168

32.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.40 KES 1,471

$4.33 COP 15.6K

163.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.20 KES 800

$5.84 COP 21.1K

6.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.94 KES 637

$8.83 COP 31.9K

-44.05%

Apples (1kg)

$3.16 KES 407

$2.24 COP 8,099

41.07%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 KES 101

$1.08 COP 3,882

-27.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 KES 340

$1.53 COP 5,522

71.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.72 KES 93.2

$1.37 COP 4,950

-47.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 KES 96.5

$1.13 COP 4,078

-33.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 KES 92.3

$1.12 COP 4,036

-36.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 KES 66.8

$0.91 COP 3,281

-42.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 KES 184

$0.94 COP 3,385

51.06%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.9K COP 64.7M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K COP 96.7M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$77.1 KES 9,947

$84.0 COP 303.1K

-8.22%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.60 COP 34.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.93 KES 3,992

$24.16 COP 87.2K

28.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.39 KES 4,955

$25.88 COP 93.4K

48.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$306 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 KES 49.9K

$826 COP 3.0M

-53.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Malindi: April 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Malindi versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $151 vs $190 – making Malindi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Malindi vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 195% more than Malindi, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $525 per month in Malindi and $1,550 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $350 in Malindi and $1,034 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 26% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Malindi, where all-in costs run around $350, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Malindi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Malindi costs $350 versus $1,034 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Malindi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.