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: $1,003 in Medellin versus $553 in Kano.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $865 in Kano.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $1,176 in Kano.

Living in Medellin is roughly 81% more expensive than in Kano, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 25% lower, Kano 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$3.56 ₦4,850

66.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$10.40 ₦14.2K

216.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$5.19 ₦7,086

43.16%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$4.73 ₦6,454

-65.12%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.43 ₦587

155.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.38 ₦525

105.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$0.86 ₦1,171

100.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$0.83 ₦1,131

283.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$3.50 ₦4,777

-68.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$1.96 ₦2,680

-35.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$2.18 ₦2,974

-36.70%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.17 ₦2,960

0.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$6.97 ₦9,515

-66.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.69 ₦2,300

-37.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.16 ₦1,581

31.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.15 ₦1,569

18.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$2.39 ₦3,262

-52.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$3.58 ₦4,878

-67.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.34 ₦459

164.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.50 ₦685

80.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$0.90 ₦1,222

175.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.83 ₦1,130

2.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$37.04 ₦50.5K

12.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.45 ₦608

120.00%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$12.09 ₦16.5K

586.60%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$19.63 ₦26.8K

19.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$34.47 ₦47.0K

-26.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$4.77 ₦6,505

-17.19%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$35.31 ₦48.2K

794.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$469 ₦640.0K

1.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$180 ₦245.0K

108.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$1,175 ₦1.6M

-27.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$353 ₦482.1K

103.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kano: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $469 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 $193 vs $151 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 81% in total monthly costs ($1,003 vs $553 including rent). Kano is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,504 in Medellin and $830 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: $475 in Medellin versus $469 in Kano. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,003 per month in Medellin versus $553 in Kano – a 81% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kano runs roughly 12% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $553 in Kano versus $1,003 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 81% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.