Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Garissa Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Garissa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $376 in Garissa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $657 in Garissa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $938 in Garissa, rent included.

Medellin costs about 356% more than Garissa, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Garissa is 73% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 COP 25.2K

$11.69 KES 1,512

-31.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.26 COP 151.7K

$23.22 KES 3,005

107.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.77 COP 30.7K

Cappuccino

$2.91 COP 9,149

$7.79 KES 1,008

-62.64%

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

$1.94 COP 6,110

$1.97 KES 255

-1.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 COP 4,783

$1.14 KES 148

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 COP 9,721

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 COP 18.1K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,287

$0.52 KES 67.0

161.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 COP 7,505

$0.59 KES 76.7

305.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,346

$1.44 KES 186

18.06%

Eggs

$2.87 COP 9,021

$1.92 KES 248

49.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 COP 31.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.78 COP 33.9K

$6.35 KES 822

69.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 COP 46.3K

$5.36 KES 694

174.81%

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 COP 12.8K

$3.95 KES 511

3.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 COP 4,940

$3.05 KES 395

-48.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 COP 6,682

$4.52 KES 584

-52.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 COP 6,959

$0.74 KES 95.9

198.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 COP 6,435

$1.25 KES 162

64.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 COP 4,728

$1.56 KES 201

-3.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 COP 3,740

$2.30 KES 298

-48.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 COP 3,640

$0.51 KES 66.5

127.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.44 COP 45.4K

$5.89 KES 762

145.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 COP 4,978

$1.68 KES 217

-5.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 COP 8,889

$3.79 KES 490

-25.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,672

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 244.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,038

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 COP 6,576

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 COP 27.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 COP 4,080

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

$27.7K COP 86.9M

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

$35.5K COP 111.6M

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

$176 COP 553.4K

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

$13.37 COP 42.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.89 COP 94.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.76 COP 140.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.6K

Cinema Ticket

$6.20 COP 19.5K

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

$793 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,019 COP 28.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.6 COP 269.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.5 COP 183.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 COP 428.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 COP 324.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,012 COP 6.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,169 COP 3.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 12.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$665 COP 2.1M

$132 KES 17.1K

403.36%

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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Garissa: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 403% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $23.00 in Garissa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $182 – making Garissa 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

Medellin vs Garissa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,716 in Medellin, $376 in Garissa – roughly 356% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,574 per month in Medellin and $564 in Garissa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $23.00 in Garissa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,716 in Medellin and $376 in Garissa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Garissa, where all-in costs run around $376, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Garissa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $376 in Garissa to $1,716 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Garissa. 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.