Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kano Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kano

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $546 in Kano.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $872 in Kano.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $1,198 in Kano.

Living in Medellin is roughly 86% more expensive than Kano, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Kano 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$3.51 ₦4,772

69.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$10.25 ₦13.9K

225.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$5.42 ₦7,373

33.39%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$4.77 ₦6,486

-65.83%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.40 ₦549

172.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.35 ₦480

108.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$0.85 ₦1,149

104.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$0.83 ₦1,124

289.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$3.55 ₦4,824

-70.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$1.85 ₦2,520

-30.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$2.29 ₦3,116

-42.36%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.12 ₦2,879

7.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$6.96 ₦9,466

-67.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.62 ₦2,208

-33.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.16 ₦1,572

31.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.15 ₦1,559

23.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$2.41 ₦3,283

-51.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$3.48 ₦4,732

-66.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.34 ₦458

161.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.50 ₦683

80.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$0.88 ₦1,203

170.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.82 ₦1,115

2.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$35.79 ₦48.7K

17.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.42 ₦567

140.48%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$12.08 ₦16.4K

592.72%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$19.66 ₦26.7K

22.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$34.56 ₦47.0K

-26.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$4.83 ₦6,567

-15.11%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$35.91 ₦48.8K

768.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$478 ₦649.7K

0.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$175 ₦237.9K

116.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$1,178 ₦1.6M

-28.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$347 ₦471.9K

108.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kano: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $478 in Kano. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $10.00 in Kano for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $150 per month, with Kano 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 Kano: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin and Kano differ by about 86% in total monthly costs ($1,017 vs $546 including rent). Kano is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,525 in Medellin and $819 in Kano to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $482 in Medellin versus $478 in Kano. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,017 per month in Medellin versus $546 in Kano – a 86% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kano runs roughly 17% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $546 in Kano versus $1,017 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kano but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kano the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Kano gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.