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: $1,681 in Medellin versus $105 in Kano.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $189 in Kano.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $273 in Kano.

Living in Medellin is roughly 1508% more expensive than in Kano, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Kano is 92% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.0K

$1.71 ₦2,266

369.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 149.4K

$14.76 ₦19.6K

224.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 30.8K

$6.41 ₦8,491

54.29%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,767

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

$1.91 COP 5,954

$0.17 ₦220

1023.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,712

$0.14 ₦189

978.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,747

$0.29 ₦379

975.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

$0.29 ₦380

1882.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,509

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,759

$0.63 ₦834

295.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,535

$0.58 ₦773

205.17%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,235

$0.93 ₦1,229

218.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.6K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 44.6K

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 12.9K

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,019

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,007

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,028

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,375

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,790

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,651

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,077

$0.62 ₦827

111.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,439

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

$0.29 ₦381

889.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

$0.29 ₦388

320.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

$12.65 ₦16.8K

536.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,084

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,825

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,260

$0.49 ₦646

179.59%

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

$27.8K COP 86.9M

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

$35.8K COP 111.6M

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

$177 COP 553.2K

$7.53 ₦9,977

2254.58%

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

$13.88 COP 43.3K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 92.8K

$6.60 ₦8,748

350.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 140.1K

$20.50 ₦27.2K

118.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.7K

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

$813 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 279.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 184.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 431.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 318.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 5.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Kano: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $15.00 in Kano for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $20.00 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 1508% in total monthly costs ($1,681 vs $105 including rent). Kano is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,521 in Medellin and $157 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.

Dining out is cheaper in Kano – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

A monthly transit pass in Kano runs roughly 536% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $105 in Kano versus $1,681 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 1508% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.