Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kalamata Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kalamata

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $1,524 in Kalamata, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $2,290 in Kalamata, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $3,055 in Kalamata, rent included.

Medellin costs about 8% more than Kalamata, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Kalamata sit above the global median – Medellin by 19%, Kalamata by 11%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kalamata
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04 COP 24.8K
$17.01 €14.66
-52.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29 COP 148.6K
$52.1 €44.92
-7.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 COP 29.0K
$8.68 €7.48
8.53%
Cappuccino
$2.94 COP 9,040
$4.17 €3.59
-29.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 COP 5,735
$2.24 €1.93
-16.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 COP 4,479
$0.61 €0.53
139.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 COP 9,882
$4.60 €3.96
-30.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 COP 17.6K
$5.76 €4.97
-0.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kalamata
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,428
$1.54 €1.33
-6.49%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 COP 7,389
$1.48 €1.28
62.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,228
$2.97 €2.56
-42.76%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 8,896
$4.64 €4.00
-37.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.06 COP 30.9K
$12.54 €10.81
-19.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.97 COP 30.7K
$9.74 €8.40
2.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.20 COP 43.7K
$13.70 €11.81
3.65%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 COP 12.3K
$2.24 €1.93
77.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 COP 4,878
$2.06 €1.78
-23.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 COP 6,624
$1.28 €1.10
67.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,078
$2.00 €1.72
15.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 COP 6,169
$1.13 €0.98
76.99%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,646
$0.96 €0.82
57.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 COP 3,701
$1.15 €1.00
4.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 COP 3,946
$0.94 €0.81
36.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84 COP 11.8K
$5.88 €5.07
-34.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.1K
$10.60 €9.14
32.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 COP 5,256
$2.13 €1.83
-19.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 COP 8,440
$2.30 €1.98
19.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kalamata
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 COP 3,834
$2.41 €2.08
-48.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 COP 239.7K
$51.6 €44.51
50.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,016
$4.37 €3.77
-70.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.17 COP 6,680
$1.02 €0.88
112.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.29 COP 25.5K
$17.40 €15.00
-52.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,172
$2.16 €1.86
-37.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K COP 84.5M
$28.9K €24.9K
-4.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K COP 112.4M
$29.5K €25.4K
23.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kalamata
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 COP 519.2K
$224 €193
-24.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 COP 41.8K
$26.03 €22.44
-47.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32 COP 87.2K
$32.18 €27.74
-12.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kalamata
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.71 COP 140.7K
$49.12 €42.34
-6.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22 COP 53.0K
$58.2 €50.2
-70.41%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.5K
$10.87 €9.37
-38.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kalamata
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$803 COP 2.5M
$372 €321
116.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,190 COP 28.3M
$4,722 €4,070
94.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kalamata
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4 COP 268.8K
$92.7 €79.9
-5.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4 COP 182.7K
$42.91 €36.98
38.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 427.5K
$108 €92.9
28.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 314.0K
$133 €115
-23.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kalamata
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,071 COP 3.3M
$505 €435
112.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 COP 2.0M
$379 €327
72.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,925 COP 5.9M
$776 €669
148.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 COP 3.2M
$589 €507
78.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,123 COP 12.7M
$2,875 €2,478
43.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 COP 5.2M
$2,567 €2,213
-33.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kalamata
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$655 COP 2.0M
$990 €854
-33.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
4.37
150.34%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kalamata: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $505 in Kalamata. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 51% higher in Kalamata, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $52.0 in Kalamata. Groceries tell a different story – $300 in Medellin vs $284 in Kalamata – so Kalamata 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 Kalamata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Kalamata compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,641 in Medellin, $1,524 in Kalamata – roughly 8% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Kalamata?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,462 per month in Medellin and $2,286 in Kalamata. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Kalamata?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kalamata, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Kalamata?
Public transport costs about 51% less in Kalamata. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Kalamata?
Kindergarten costs $803 per month in Medellin and $372 in Kalamata. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kalamata, where all-in costs run around $1,524, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Kalamata it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Kalamata?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,524 in Kalamata to $1,641 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Medellin or Kalamata safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Medellin and Kalamata?
If budget matters most, go with Kalamata. 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.

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