πA single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $698 in Kalush, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,065 in Kalush, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,431 in Kalush, rent included.
πMedellin costs about 48% more than Kalush, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth Medellin and Kalush are more affordable than the global median β Medellin23% lower, Kalush48% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Kalush
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COPΒ 21.4K
$7.19β΄317
-17.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COPΒ 118.2K
$24.53β΄1,081
33.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COPΒ 26.0K
$5.86β΄258
22.87%
Cappuccino
$1.70COPΒ 6,140
$1.16β΄51.2
46.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,966
$0.65β΄28.45
69.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COPΒ 2,605
$0.44β΄19.42
63.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COPΒ 6,022
$0.96β΄42.46
73.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COPΒ 11.2K
$1.44β΄63.4
115.28%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kalush
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COPΒ 3,809
$1.08β΄47.74
-1.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COPΒ 4,497
$0.60β΄26.48
108.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COPΒ 5,022
$1.25β΄55.3
11.20%
Eggs
$2.26COPΒ 8,168
$1.56β΄68.6
44.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COPΒ 15.6K
$8.23β΄363
-47.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COPΒ 21.1K
$3.83β΄169
52.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COPΒ 31.9K
$6.62β΄292
33.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COPΒ 8,099
$0.80β΄35.37
180.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COPΒ 3,882
$1.51β΄66.6
-28.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COPΒ 5,522
$1.64β΄72.5
-6.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPΒ 4,950
$2.10β΄92.6
-34.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COPΒ 4,078
$0.64β΄28.38
76.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COPΒ 4,036
$0.57β΄25.02
96.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COPΒ 3,057
$1.25β΄55.2
-32.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COPΒ 3,281
$0.50β΄21.95
82.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COPΒ 8,414
$2.55β΄112
-8.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COPΒ 40.2K
$4.47β΄197
148.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COPΒ 4,309
$0.80β΄35.24
48.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COPΒ 8,553
$1.30β΄57.2
82.31%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Kalush
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,838
$0.35β΄15.22
125.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COPΒ 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COPΒ 5,184
$1.82β΄80.2
-20.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COPΒ 6,901
$0.23β΄10.11
730.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COPΒ 28.9K
$2.97β΄131
170.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COPΒ 3,385
$1.38β΄60.9
-31.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOPΒ 64.7M
$30.8Kβ΄1.4M
-41.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOPΒ 96.7M
$24.9Kβ΄1.1M
7.42%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kalush
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COPΒ 303.1K
$85.3β΄3,758
-1.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COPΒ 34.7K
$5.23β΄231
83.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COPΒ 87.2K
$6.02β΄266
301.33%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kalush
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COPΒ 93.4K
$24.40β΄1,075
6.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COPΒ 68.7K
$9.39β΄414
102.77%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COPΒ 14.1K
$3.75β΄165
4.53%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kalush
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COPΒ 1.1M
$275β΄12.1K
11.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COPΒ 21.4M
$3,434β΄151.4K
72.33%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kalush
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COPΒ 209.1K
$47.89β΄2,110
20.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COPΒ 114.9K
$33.34β΄1,469
-4.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COPΒ 360.6K
$77.0β΄3,391
29.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COPΒ 386.8K
$87.7β΄3,865
22.15%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kalush
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COPΒ 1.8M
$268β΄11.8K
81.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COPΒ 1.3M
$202β΄8,886
82.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COPΒ 3.0M
$433β΄19.1K
90.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COPΒ 2.6M
$319β΄14.0K
124.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COPΒ 10.6M
$1,039β΄45.8K
181.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COPΒ 5.1M
$750β΄33.0K
87.65%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kalush
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COPΒ 2.0M
$272β΄12.0K
100.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
16.17
-16.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Kalush: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $268 in Kalush. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 100% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $25.00 in Kalush. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $152 β making Kalush 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 Kalush: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kalush cheaper than Medellin?
Yes β Medellin is pricier by about 48%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,048 in Kalush. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kalush, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Kalush?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $698 in Kalush. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Medellin and $275 in Kalush. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Kalush?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kalush, where all-in costs run around $698, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Kalush it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Kalush more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kalush β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kalush. 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.