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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $348 per month in Malindi vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $571 per month in Malindi vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $794 per month in Malindi vs $2,188 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 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.12 KES 274

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-64.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.55 KES 3,962

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-8.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

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

$1.60 KES 207

$1.09 COP 3,821

46.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 KES 119

$0.73 COP 2,548

24.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.57 KES 463

$1.74 COP 6,065

105.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 KES 461

$3.23 COP 11.3K

10.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 KES 126

$1.05 COP 3,662

-7.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 KES 164

$1.32 COP 4,617

-3.79%

Eggs

$2.92 KES 379

$2.27 COP 7,927

28.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.84 KES 1,535

$4.35 COP 15.2K

172.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.05 KES 785

$5.88 COP 20.5K

2.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.11 KES 662

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-40.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 KES 393

$2.25 COP 7,844

34.67%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 KES 101

$1.07 COP 3,733

-27.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.67 KES 347

$1.52 COP 5,322

75.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 KES 87.3

$1.42 COP 4,964

-52.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 KES 97.4

$1.17 COP 4,084

-35.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 KES 91.0

$1.17 COP 4,077

-40.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 KES 62.0

$0.90 COP 3,146

-46.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 KES 176

$1.01 COP 3,509

34.65%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

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

$76.8 KES 9,957

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-8.22%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.80 KES 3,993

$24.11 COP 84.1K

27.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.73 KES 5,021

$25.31 COP 88.3K

53.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 KES 50.8K

$837 COP 2.9M

-53.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 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 192% 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 $522 per month in Malindi and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $348 in Malindi and $1,017 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 $348, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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 $348 versus $1,017 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.