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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $364 per month in Malindi vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $596 per month in Malindi vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $829 per month in Malindi vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Malindi is about 64% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Malindi and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Malindi 73% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 KES 272

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-64.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.20 KES 4,033

$32.96 COP 103.9K

-5.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,211

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

$1.53 KES 198

$1.10 COP 3,471

39.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 KES 115

$0.78 COP 2,460

14.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.54 KES 457

$1.72 COP 5,416

105.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 KES 439

$3.18 COP 10.0K

6.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 KES 127

$1.10 COP 3,477

-10.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,965

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 KES 163

$1.38 COP 4,353

-8.70%

Eggs

$2.91 KES 376

$2.18 COP 6,864

33.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.44 KES 1,479

$4.49 COP 14.2K

154.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.05 KES 781

$5.79 COP 18.3K

4.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.15 KES 665

$8.97 COP 28.3K

-42.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.05 KES 395

$2.32 COP 7,314

31.47%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 KES 97.9

$1.06 COP 3,355

-28.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 KES 341

$1.52 COP 4,778

73.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 KES 91.3

$1.36 COP 4,273

-47.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 KES 96.4

$1.13 COP 3,555

-33.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 KES 92.2

$1.17 COP 3,692

-39.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,840

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 KES 67.4

$0.90 COP 2,826

-42.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,039

Wine (Bottle)

$7.65 KES 989

$12.12 COP 38.2K

-36.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,746

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,822

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,690

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,462

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,146

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 KES 177

$0.99 COP 3,121

38.38%

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

$17.6K COP 55.5M

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

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

$78.4 KES 10.1K

$83.0 COP 261.6K

-5.53%

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

$9.70 COP 30.6K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.23 KES 4,037

$23.52 COP 74.1K

32.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.06 KES 4,919

$25.26 COP 79.6K

50.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.2K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

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

$316 COP 995.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 189.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 KES 49.3K

$849 COP 2.7M

-55.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 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: $166 vs $193 – 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 175% 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 $546 per month in Malindi and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $364 in Malindi and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 17% 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 $364, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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 $364 versus $1,003 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.