Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kakanj Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kakanj

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $920 in Kakanj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,439 in Kakanj, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,959 in Kakanj, rent included.

Medellin costs about 10% more than Kakanj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Kakanj are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Kakanj 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$7.29 BAM 12.28

-17.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.2K

$35.74 BAM 60.2

-8.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$5.86 BAM 9.88

20.99%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,105

$1.65 BAM 2.78

3.64%

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

$1.10 COP 3,918

$1.73 BAM 2.92

-36.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,776

$1.15 BAM 1.94

-32.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,987

$2.03 BAM 3.41

-17.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$2.12 BAM 3.57

44.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,899

$1.36 BAM 2.30

-19.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,500

$1.25 BAM 2.10

0.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,914

$1.77 BAM 2.98

-22.03%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,813

$2.87 BAM 4.83

-23.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$7.93 BAM 13.37

-44.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$7.68 BAM 12.95

-26.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.7K

$11.86 BAM 19.98

-25.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,334

$1.43 BAM 2.41

63.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,771

$1.62 BAM 2.73

-34.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,365

$1.90 BAM 3.20

-21.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,915

$1.73 BAM 2.92

-20.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,104

$1.07 BAM 1.81

7.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,148

$1.21 BAM 2.04

-4.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,176

$1.12 BAM 1.89

-20.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,992

$0.77 BAM 1.29

9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,131

$3.56 BAM 6.00

-35.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$6.74 BAM 11.36

57.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,276

$0.86 BAM 1.45

39.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

$1.23 BAM 2.07

100.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

$1.84 BAM 3.11

-53.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

$35.26 BAM 59.4

17.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,255

$1.46 BAM 2.46

0.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,997

$0.83 BAM 1.39

136.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$9.11 BAM 15.35

-15.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,403

$1.52 BAM 2.57

-37.50%

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

$18.1K COP 64.6M

$26.5K BAM 44.6K

-31.54%

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

$26.5K COP 94.4M

$26.3K BAM 44.4K

0.54%

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

$82.3 COP 293.2K

$158 BAM 266

-47.86%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$18.52 BAM 31.20

-48.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.4K

$23.85 BAM 40.18

1.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

$29.56 BAM 49.80

-12.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

$10.72 BAM 18.05

77.24%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$5.67 BAM 9.56

-30.69%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$170 BAM 287

81.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$3,374 BAM 5,685

76.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.1K

$69.4 BAM 117

-15.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.3K

$35.24 BAM 59.4

-8.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.7K

$88.6 BAM 149

15.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 386.5K

$117 BAM 197

-7.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$259 BAM 436

84.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$167 BAM 281

126.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$362 BAM 610

131.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$314 BAM 529

130.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

$2,753 BAM 4,639

1.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$2,066 BAM 3,481

-41.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.23

217.49%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kakanj: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $259 in Kakanj. 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 $36.00 in Kakanj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $215 – making Medellin 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 Kakanj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 10%, 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,379 in Kakanj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 17% less in Kakanj. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Medellin and $170 in Kakanj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kakanj, where all-in costs run around $920, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Kakanj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kakanj – 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 Kakanj. 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.