🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $1,940 in Kassel.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $2,920 in Kassel.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $3,900 in Kassel.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 13% less than in Kassel, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin23% above, Kassel42% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kassel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$15.20€13.25
-47.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$58.0€50.5
-17.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$12.66€11.04
-21.88%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$3.90€3.40
-19.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$3.95€3.44
-51.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$2.53€2.21
-40.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$5.70€4.97
-45.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$4.63€4.04
24.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kassel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$1.38€1.21
4.35%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$2.21€1.93
12.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$3.43€2.99
-48.40%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$3.78€3.30
-21.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$14.15€12.33
-28.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$11.33€9.88
-10.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$24.52€21.37
-41.68%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$3.25€2.83
27.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$2.22€1.94
-27.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$2.44€2.13
-7.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$5.23€4.56
-56.98%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$1.61€1.40
26.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$1.38€1.21
11.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$1.76€1.53
-33.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$0.90€0.78
45.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$9.33€8.13
-58.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$5.63€4.91
148.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$1.03€0.90
68.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$1.69€1.47
69.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kassel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$3.61€3.15
-66.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
$73.0€63.6
10.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$4.30€3.75
-69.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$2.60€2.27
-15.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
$41.63€36.29
-79.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$2.06€1.80
-33.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$34.6K€30.2K
-19.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$39.9K€34.8K
-10.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kassel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$417€364
-57.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$42.55€37.09
-67.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$54.7€47.65
-45.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kassel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
$37.99€33.11
18.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
$11.67€10.17
46.70%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$13.65€11.89
-51.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kassel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$373€326
117.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$16.6K€14.4K
-44.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kassel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$97.9€85.4
-8.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$47.10€41.05
25.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$89.9€78.4
53.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$116€101
-11.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kassel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$690€602
53.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$504€440
31.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$1,098€957
71.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$938€818
9.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
$5,750€5,013
-27.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$3,063€2,670
-45.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kassel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$2,767€2,412
-75.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
3.95
176.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Kassel: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $690 in Kassel. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kassel pays 308% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $58.0 in Kassel for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $348 per month, with Medellin 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 Kassel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Kassel?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Kassel. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in Kassel?
On paper, salaries run 308% lower in Kassel. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Kassel?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $690 in Kassel. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Kassel?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $58.0 in Kassel. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Kassel?
All in, you'll spend $1,681 per month in Medellin versus $1,940 in Kassel – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Medellin or in Kassel?
At $1,681 in Medellin versus $1,940 in Kassel, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Kassel. 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 Kassel?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,681 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 Kassel?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Kassel 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 – expenses run 15% less than in Kassel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.