Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bungoma Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bungoma

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $145 in Bungoma.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $293 in Bungoma.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $441 in Bungoma.

Living in Medellin is roughly 1058% more expensive than in Bungoma, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Bungoma is 89% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.3K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 151.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 31.2K

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,873

$5.40 KES 699

-42.04%

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

$1.91 COP 6,019

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,763

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,853

$1.57 KES 203

98.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 18.1K

$1.73 KES 224

232.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,558

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,843

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,595

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,336

$1.23 KES 159

140.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.8K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.9K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 45.1K

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 13.0K

$3.02 KES 391

37.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,073

$0.91 KES 117

76.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,083

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,104

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,444

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,842

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,691

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,121

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.3K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 44.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,498

$1.56 KES 201

11.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 9,053

$1.74 KES 225

64.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,834

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 253.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,129

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,899

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,306

$1.38 KES 178

-0.72%

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

$27.8K COP 87.8M

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

$35.8K COP 112.8M

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

$177 COP 559.3K

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

$13.88 COP 43.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 93.8K

$29.21 KES 3,780

1.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 141.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 54.0K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 21.0K

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

$813 COP 2.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 29.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 282.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 186.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 435.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 322.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 6.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

$170 KES 21.9K

505.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bungoma: September 13, 2026

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

Medellin vs Bungoma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bungoma is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 1058% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,521 in Medellin and $218 in Bungoma to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 729% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,681 per month in Medellin versus $145 in Bungoma – a 1058% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $145 in Bungoma versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bungoma but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Bungoma the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Bungoma is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Bungoma are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bungoma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1058% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.