Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kaduna Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kaduna

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $400 in Kaduna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $728 in Kaduna, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,057 in Kaduna, rent included.

Medellin costs about 154% more than Kaduna, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Kaduna are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Kaduna 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$2.07 ₦2,817

187.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$34.66 ₦47.1K

-3.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$3.50 ₦4,754

106.57%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.33 ₦454

230.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.13 ₦170

461.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$0.87 ₦1,190

100.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$1.37 ₦1,866

135.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$2.19 ₦2,977

-52.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$1.00 ₦1,361

29.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$2.07 ₦2,818

-36.23%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$3.29 ₦4,477

-31.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$2.27 ₦3,087

91.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$5.48 ₦7,452

57.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$6.45 ₦8,777

-65.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$3.52 ₦4,785

-69.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.19 ₦1,618

27.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.89 ₦2,564

-24.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$2.34 ₦3,189

-50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$2.36 ₦3,216

-50.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.37 ₦499

140.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.37 ₦508

143.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$1.80 ₦2,448

513.33%

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)

$1.01 COP 3,509

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)

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$14.10 ₦19.2K

493.48%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$7.26 ₦9,870

30.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$32.99 ₦44.9K

-26.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

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

$11.39 ₦15.5K

409.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$21.39 ₦29.1K

52.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$21.30 ₦29.0K

367.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$21.21 ₦28.8K

411.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$175 ₦238.4K

175.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$105 ₦142.5K

262.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$488 ₦664.1K

71.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$271 ₦368.6K

166.75%

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 Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kaduna: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $175 in Kaduna. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $35.00 in Kaduna. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $166 in Kaduna – so Kaduna wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Kaduna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 154% more than Kaduna, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $600 in Kaduna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kaduna, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $400 in Kaduna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 15% 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 Kaduna, where all-in costs run around $400, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Kaduna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kaduna costs $400 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 Kaduna. 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.