Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kansas City, MO

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,639 a month against $2,442 in Kansas City, MO, rent and utilities included – about $9,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Kansas City, MO, United States
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Kansas City, MO
🇺🇸 United States
$2,442
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Kansas City, MO

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Kansas City, MO actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $2,442 in Kansas City, MO, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Kansas City, MO $2,442

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $3,599 in Kansas City, MO, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Kansas City, MO $3,599

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $4,756 in Kansas City, MO, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Kansas City, MO $4,756

Medellin is about 33% cheaper than Kansas City, MO, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Medellin and Kansas City, MO sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Kansas City, MO by 79%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kansas City, MO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 26.1K
$25.16 $25.16
-67.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 151.8K
$80.5 $80.5
-41.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.7K
$12.48 $12.48
-23.88%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,729
$5.98 $5.98
-49.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,806
$3.19 $3.19
-43.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,558
$2.46 $2.46
-42.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.2K
$6.96 $6.96
-54.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.6K
$7.61 $7.61
-24.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kansas City, MO
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,873
$1.16 $1.16
30.17%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,673
$3.37 $3.37
-29.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,716
$5.16 $5.16
-65.70%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,327
$4.21 $4.21
-31.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.9K
$14.38 $14.38
-29.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.9K
$9.82 $9.82
0.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 45.1K
$13.71 $13.71
2.04%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.8K
$4.49 $4.49
-11.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 5,009
$1.62 $1.62
-4.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,044
$4.43 $4.43
-50.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,047
$5.52 $5.52
-60.51%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,333
$3.21 $3.21
-38.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,129
$3.31 $3.31
-51.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,696
$2.28 $2.28
-49.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 4,012
$2.10 $2.10
-40.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.8K
$7.93 $7.93
-50.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 44.2K
$15.03 $15.03
-8.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,356
$1.93 $1.93
-13.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,286
$3.95 $3.95
-42.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kansas City, MO
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,769
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 249.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,092
$2.48 $2.48
-48.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,608
$1.21 $1.21
69.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.6K
$59.7 $59.7
-85.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,346
$0.99 $0.99
36.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 109.9M
$34.4K $34.4K
-0.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 111.9M
$26.2K $26.2K
32.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kansas City, MO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 547.5K
$199 $199
-14.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 43.7K
$66.6 $66.6
-79.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 90.6K
$72.5 $72.5
-61.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kansas City, MO
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 141.0K
$44.00 $44.00
-0.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 55.5K
$32.05 $32.05
-46.37%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 22.3K
$15.17 $15.17
-54.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kansas City, MO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.6M
$1,136 $1,136
-29.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 29.4M
$21.0K $21.0K
-56.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kansas City, MO
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 273.4K
$61.7 $61.7
37.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 187.0K
$43.49 $43.49
33.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 435.5K
$103 $103
30.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 315.8K
$147 $147
-33.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kansas City, MO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.9M
$1,250 $1,250
-3.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.1M
$1,087 $1,087
-40.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.5M
$2,468 $2,468
-17.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.3M
$1,724 $1,724
-41.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.5M
$2,584 $2,584
61.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.2M
$1,837 $1,837
4.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kansas City, MO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$3,939 $3,939
-83.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6.56
66.77%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Kansas City, MO: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Kansas City, MO
$1.1K 69.4% $445
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Kansas City, MO
$392 32% $95
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Kansas City, MO
$338 59.8% $126
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Kansas City, MO
$383 126% $214
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Kansas City, MO
$160 5.4% $9.1
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Kansas City, MO
$8.5 * 90.9% $85
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Kansas City, MO
$74 29.2% $17

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $1,250 in Kansas City, MO. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Kansas City, MO are about 6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $81 in Kansas City, MO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $392 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇺🇸 Kansas City, MO
🕒 Local time
00:28 12:28 AM
23:28 11:28 PM
1 h behind Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
463,202
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 3,227 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,617 COP (10,000 COP = 2.76 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Kansas City, MO 4,120 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Kansas City, MO

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kansas City, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Kansas City, MO compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,639 in Medellin, $2,442 in Kansas City, MO – Medellin comes out roughly 33% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Kansas City, MO?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $3,664 in Kansas City, MO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Kansas City, MO?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,208 in Medellin and $1,250 in Kansas City, MO. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Kansas City, MO?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,639 in Medellin and $2,442 in Kansas City, MO. That makes Medellin about 33% cheaper.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Kansas City, MO?
Kindergarten costs $797 per month in Medellin and $1,136 in Kansas City, MO. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Kansas City, MO?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,639 in Medellin to $2,442 in Kansas City, MO. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Medellin and Kansas City, MO?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kansas City, MO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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