Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kasese Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kasese

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $217 in Kasese, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $345 in Kasese, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $474 in Kasese, rent included.

Medellin costs about 368% more than Kasese, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Kasese are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Kasese 84% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$1.97 UGX 7,400

204.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$2.81 UGX 10.6K

-39.15%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$0.41 UGX 1,529

168.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$0.27 UGX 1,012

188.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$0.80 UGX 2,990

110.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$1.14 UGX 4,291

10.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$0.98 UGX 3,703

40.82%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$2.99 UGX 11.2K

-26.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$5.44 UGX 20.5K

3.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$4.24 UGX 16.0K

109.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$2.83 UGX 10.6K

-17.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$0.58 UGX 2,182

137.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$0.54 UGX 2,019

112.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$0.55 UGX 2,052

110.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.54 UGX 2,029

55.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$4.08 UGX 15.3K

160.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$13.95 UGX 52.5K

-31.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$28.04 UGX 105.4K

-7.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

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

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$13.73 UGX 51.6K

327.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$19.65 UGX 73.9K

451.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$405 UGX 1.5M

588.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kasese: May 30, 2026

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 Kasese: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 368%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $325 in Kasese. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $217 in Kasese. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 85% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kasese, where all-in costs run around $217, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Kasese it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kasese – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Kasese. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.