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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $217 in Kasese, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $346 in Kasese, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $476 in Kasese, rent included.

Medellin costs about 375% more than Kasese, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Kasese are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Kasese 84% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$1.99 UGX 7,361

209.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$2.72 UGX 10.1K

-36.76%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.40 UGX 1,482

162.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.29 UGX 1,086

165.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$0.81 UGX 2,987

108.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$1.10 UGX 4,052

18.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.00 UGX 3,712

40.00%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$2.96 UGX 11.0K

-27.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$5.41 UGX 20.0K

8.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$4.29 UGX 15.9K

101.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$2.74 UGX 10.2K

-16.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$0.58 UGX 2,148

132.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$0.55 UGX 2,028

105.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$0.57 UGX 2,110

98.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.53 UGX 1,969

71.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$4.05 UGX 15.0K

205.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$13.78 UGX 51.0K

-27.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$27.79 UGX 102.8K

-9.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

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

$305 COP 993.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$14.11 UGX 52.2K

311.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$19.61 UGX 72.5K

449.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$400 UGX 1.5M

703.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 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 12, 2026

Last update for Kasese: July 11, 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 375%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $326 in Kasese. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 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 92% 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 $1,031. 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.