Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Homa Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Homa Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,555 per month in Medellin vs $58.4 in Homa Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,314 per month in Medellin vs $451 in Homa Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,072 per month in Medellin vs $843 in Homa Bay, rent included.

Medellin costs about 2564% more than Homa Bay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 15% above the global median, while Homa Bay is 96% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 COP 24.3K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.78 COP 143.4K

$151 KES 19.5K

-70.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.24 COP 29.6K

$10.57 KES 1,371

-12.58%

Cappuccino

$2.95 COP 9,441

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

$1.80 COP 5,769

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 COP 4,322

$1.02 KES 132

32.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 COP 9,394

$2.43 KES 315

20.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.46 COP 17.5K

$5.06 KES 656

7.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 COP 4,590

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 COP 7,662

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 COP 5,127

Eggs

$2.88 COP 9,217

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.71 COP 31.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.44 COP 30.2K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.24 COP 42.4K

Apples (1kg)

$3.75 COP 12.0K

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 COP 4,629

Oranges (1kg)

$2.10 COP 6,722

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 COP 6,821

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 COP 6,161

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,905

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 COP 3,493

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 COP 3,783

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.79 COP 12.1K

Wine (Bottle)

$13.16 COP 42.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 COP 5,254

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 COP 7,294

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,765

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.6 COP 235.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,091

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.98 COP 6,333

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 COP 4,145

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

$26.8K COP 85.8M

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

$34.7K COP 111.1M

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

$158 COP 505.5K

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

$13.39 COP 42.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.28 COP 87.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.15 COP 141.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.99 COP 51.2K

Cinema Ticket

$6.39 COP 20.5K

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

$777 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,800 COP 28.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.7 COP 265.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.1 COP 179.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 COP 419.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.9 COP 307.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 COP 3.2M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 COP 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,826 COP 5.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$969 COP 3.1M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,907 COP 12.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,576 COP 5.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$620 COP 2.0M

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 28, 2026

Last update for Homa Bay: September 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin versus $151 in Homa Bay. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

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 Homa Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 2564%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,333 per month in Medellin and $87.6 in Homa Bay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,555 in Medellin and $58.4 in Homa Bay. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin and $151 in Homa Bay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Homa Bay, where all-in costs run around $58.4, than in Medellin at $1,555. In Homa Bay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Homa Bay – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Homa Bay. 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.