Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kalush Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kalush

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $705 in Kalush, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,068 in Kalush, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,430 in Kalush, rent included.

Medellin costs about 42% more than Kalush, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Kalush are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Kalush 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kalush
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91 COP 18.6K
$7.21 ₴322
-18.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 COP 103.8K
$24.14 ₴1,079
36.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 23.4K
$5.71 ₴255
30.12%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,207
$1.11 ₴49.44
48.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,468
$0.60 ₴26.97
83.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,458
$0.40 ₴17.85
95.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,412
$0.94 ₴42.06
82.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$1.45 ₴64.7
119.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kalush
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COP 3,474
$1.08 ₴48.34
1.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 3,962
$0.63 ₴28.26
100.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,349
$1.30 ₴58.1
6.15%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 6,858
$1.57 ₴70.0
38.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 COP 14.1K
$8.15 ₴364
-44.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.79 COP 18.2K
$3.86 ₴172
50.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 28.2K
$6.37 ₴284
40.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 COP 7,308
$0.80 ₴35.89
190.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,352
$1.53 ₴68.2
-30.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,774
$1.64 ₴73.1
-7.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,270
$2.04 ₴91.0
-33.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,552
$0.66 ₴29.39
71.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,689
$0.53 ₴23.83
120.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,838
$1.24 ₴55.4
-27.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,823
$0.49 ₴21.88
83.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 COP 7,034
$2.49 ₴111
-10.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 COP 38.2K
$4.57 ₴204
165.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 3,743
$0.78 ₴34.89
52.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 7,815
$1.29 ₴57.8
92.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kalush
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 COP 2,687
$0.35 ₴15.44
142.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.62 COP 131.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,459
$1.84 ₴82.2
-22.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 6,141
$0.25 ₴11.26
680.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 24.8K
$2.85 ₴128
176.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,118
$1.38 ₴61.5
-28.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 55.4M
$30.6K ₴1.4M
-42.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 84.4M
$24.3K ₴1.1M
10.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kalush
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 261.4K
$86.3 ₴3,855
-3.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 COP 30.5K
$5.24 ₴234
85.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 COP 74.1K
$5.99 ₴268
292.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kalush
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.26 COP 79.5K
$24.35 ₴1,088
3.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 COP 60.1K
$9.85 ₴440
93.91%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 12.4K
$3.79 ₴169
4.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kalush
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COP 994.2K
$276 ₴12.3K
14.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,975 COP 18.8M
$3,452 ₴154.3K
73.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kalush
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 188.9K
$49.00 ₴2,190
22.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 100.2K
$34.12 ₴1,525
-6.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 320.1K
$77.1 ₴3,447
31.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 338.3K
$90.0 ₴4,023
19.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kalush
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.5M
$267 ₴11.9K
78.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 COP 1.2M
$199 ₴8,909
87.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 COP 2.7M
$444 ₴19.8K
91.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 COP 2.3M
$309 ₴13.8K
132.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,265 COP 10.3M
$1,053 ₴47.0K
210.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 COP 4.5M
$780 ₴34.8K
84.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kalush
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$624 COP 2.0M
$270 ₴12.0K
131.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
16.17
-16.94%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kalush: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $267 in Kalush. 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 132% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $24.00 in Kalush. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $151 – 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 – Medellin is pricier by about 42%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,058 in Kalush. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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 and in Kalush?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $705 in Kalush. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Medellin and $276 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 living in Medellin or in Kalush?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kalush, where all-in costs run around $705, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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 – 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.

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