πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,085 in KaposvΓ‘r.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,612 in KaposvΓ‘r.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $2,140 in KaposvΓ‘r.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 6% less than in KaposvΓ‘r, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, KaposvΓ‘r19% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
KaposvΓ‘r
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
$9.87FtΒ 2,987
-39.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
$33.86FtΒ 10.2K
-1.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
$8.26FtΒ 2,499
-12.47%
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
$1.59FtΒ 481
2.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
$0.94FtΒ 284
15.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
$0.59FtΒ 180
23.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
$1.24FtΒ 374
40.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
$1.40FtΒ 425
130.71%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
KaposvΓ‘r
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
$1.08FtΒ 328
-2.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
$1.15FtΒ 349
12.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
$1.66FtΒ 501
-20.48%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
$2.94FtΒ 889
-22.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
$7.13FtΒ 2,159
-38.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
$5.86FtΒ 1,774
0.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
$10.98FtΒ 3,322
-21.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
$1.28FtΒ 388
75.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
$1.93FtΒ 585
-44.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
$2.01FtΒ 607
-24.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
$1.26FtΒ 382
12.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
$0.89FtΒ 269
31.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
$0.57FtΒ 171
105.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
$0.45FtΒ 136
97.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
$0.50FtΒ 150
80.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
$6.24FtΒ 1,889
-63.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
$5.89FtΒ 1,783
87.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
$1.06FtΒ 321
7.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
$1.20FtΒ 362
98.33%
π Getting Around
Medellin
KaposvΓ‘r
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
$0.93FtΒ 282
-9.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
$25.11FtΒ 7,599
67.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
$1.40FtΒ 423
0.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
$1.17FtΒ 355
62.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
$16.99FtΒ 5,141
-54.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
$1.75FtΒ 529
-42.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
$31.3KFtΒ 9.5M
-43.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
$36.2KFtΒ 11.0M
-26.81%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
KaposvΓ‘r
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
$149FtΒ 44.9K
-43.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
$22.79FtΒ 6,895
-58.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
$24.18FtΒ 7,314
-0.29%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
KaposvΓ‘r
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
$46.11FtΒ 14.0K
-45.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
$16.48FtΒ 4,985
16.14%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
$7.77FtΒ 2,352
-47.23%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
KaposvΓ‘r
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$176FtΒ 53.1K
77.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
$6,762FtΒ 2.0M
-11.36%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
KaposvΓ‘r
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
$89.5FtΒ 27.1K
-35.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
$25.80FtΒ 7,804
26.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
$96.4FtΒ 29.2K
3.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 378.8K
$104FtΒ 31.6K
3.88%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
KaposvΓ‘r
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$451FtΒ 136.4K
6.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.3M
$342FtΒ 103.4K
11.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 2.9M
$636FtΒ 192.5K
31.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.5M
$530FtΒ 160.4K
36.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
$3,298FtΒ 997.9K
-13.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
$2,411FtΒ 729.4K
-49.27%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
KaposvΓ‘r
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
8
67.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for KaposvΓ‘r: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $451 in KaposvΓ‘r. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $34.00 in KaposvΓ‘r. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $188, with KaposvΓ‘r cheaper for home cooking.
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 KaposvΓ‘r: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or KaposvΓ‘r?
Medellin wins on cost β living expenses run 7% lower than in KaposvΓ‘r. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin vs KaposvΓ‘r?
You'd need roughly $1,525 in Medellin and $1,627 in KaposvΓ‘r 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs KaposvΓ‘r?
Rent for a central apartment: $482 in Medellin versus $451 in KaposvΓ‘r. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to KaposvΓ‘r?
All in, you'll spend $1,017 per month in Medellin versus $1,085 in KaposvΓ‘r β a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Medellin vs KaposvΓ‘r?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 67% less than in KaposvΓ‘r. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or KaposvΓ‘r?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,085 in KaposvΓ‘r, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in KaposvΓ‘r. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or KaposvΓ‘r?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $1,017 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to KaposvΓ‘r?
Safety-wise, Medellin and KaposvΓ‘r are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet β expenses run 7% less than in KaposvΓ‘r. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.