πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $1,802 in Kalgoorlie.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $3,065 in Kalgoorlie.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $4,329 in Kalgoorlie.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 43% less than in Kalgoorlie, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Kalgoorlie is 35% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Kalgoorlie
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COPΒ 21.4K
$16.03A$22.44
-63.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COPΒ 118.2K
$79.5A$111
-58.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COPΒ 26.0K
$9.65A$13.51
-25.39%
Cappuccino
$1.70COPΒ 6,140
$4.20A$5.88
-59.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,966
$3.68A$5.15
-70.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COPΒ 2,605
$3.19A$4.47
-77.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COPΒ 6,022
$5.70A$7.98
-70.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COPΒ 11.2K
$6.95A$9.73
-55.40%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kalgoorlie
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COPΒ 3,809
$1.47A$2.06
-27.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COPΒ 4,497
$3.31A$4.63
-62.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COPΒ 5,022
$1.94A$2.72
-28.35%
Eggs
$2.26COPΒ 8,168
$3.82A$5.34
-40.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COPΒ 15.6K
$8.30A$11.62
-47.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COPΒ 21.1K
$8.39A$11.75
-30.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COPΒ 31.9K
$13.93A$19.50
-36.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COPΒ 8,099
$3.23A$4.52
-30.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COPΒ 3,882
$2.75A$3.85
-60.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COPΒ 5,522
$2.89A$4.05
-47.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPΒ 4,950
$4.08A$5.72
-66.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COPΒ 4,078
$2.41A$3.37
-53.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COPΒ 4,036
$2.10A$2.94
-46.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COPΒ 3,057
$1.98A$2.77
-57.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COPΒ 3,281
$1.54A$2.15
-40.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COPΒ 8,414
$30.97A$43.35
-92.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COPΒ 40.2K
$14.27A$19.97
-22.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COPΒ 4,309
$4.60A$6.44
-74.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COPΒ 8,553
$5.41A$7.57
-56.19%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Kalgoorlie
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,838
$2.65A$3.71
-70.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COPΒ 148.5K
$63.8A$89.3
-35.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COPΒ 5,184
$3.63A$5.08
-60.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COPΒ 6,901
$1.60A$2.24
19.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COPΒ 28.9K
$34.10A$47.73
-76.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COPΒ 3,385
$1.27A$1.78
-25.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOPΒ 64.7M
$29.3KA$41.0K
-38.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOPΒ 96.7M
$22.8KA$32.0K
17.37%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kalgoorlie
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COPΒ 303.1K
$292A$408
-71.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COPΒ 34.7K
$52.4A$73.3
-81.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COPΒ 87.2K
$65.6A$91.8
-63.15%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kalgoorlie
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COPΒ 93.4K
$35.88A$50.2
-27.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COPΒ 68.7K
$15.84A$22.18
20.20%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COPΒ 14.1K
$16.42A$22.98
-76.13%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kalgoorlie
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COPΒ 1.1M
$1,647A$2,305
-81.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COPΒ 21.4M
$11.9KA$16.7K
-50.35%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kalgoorlie
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COPΒ 209.1K
$68.3A$95.6
-15.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COPΒ 114.9K
$49.61A$69.5
-35.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COPΒ 360.6K
$98.0A$137
1.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COPΒ 386.8K
$108A$152
-1.07%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kalgoorlie
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COPΒ 1.8M
$1,264A$1,770
-61.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COPΒ 1.3M
$458A$642
-19.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COPΒ 3.0M
$1,557A$2,179
-46.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COPΒ 2.6M
$1,439A$2,015
-50.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COPΒ 10.6M
$6,170A$8,638
-52.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COPΒ 5.1M
$4,985A$6,980
-71.78%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kalgoorlie
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COPΒ 2.0M
$6,167A$8,633
-91.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.34
111.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Kalgoorlie: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $1,264 in Kalgoorlie. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Kalgoorlie pays 1030% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $79.0 in Kalgoorlie for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $344 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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 Kalgoorlie: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Kalgoorlie?
Medellin wins on cost β living expenses run 74% lower than in Kalgoorlie. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or Kalgoorlie?
On paper, Kalgoorlie earns 1030% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs Kalgoorlie?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $1,264 in Kalgoorlie. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Medellin vs Kalgoorlie?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 55% less than in Kalgoorlie. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and Kalgoorlie?
Childcare runs $306 in Medellin versus $1,647 in Kalgoorlie. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or Kalgoorlie?
At $1,034 in Medellin versus $1,802 in Kalgoorlie, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Kalgoorlie. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Kalgoorlie?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $1,034 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Kalgoorlie?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Kalgoorlie are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet β expenses run 74% less than in Kalgoorlie. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.