Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Katy, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,692 a month against $2,451 in Katy, TX, rent and utilities included – about $9,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Katy, TX, United States
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Katy, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,451
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Katy, TX

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 Katy, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,692 per month in Medellin vs $2,451 in Katy, TX, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,692
  • Katy, TX $2,451

A couple spends around $2,471 per month in Medellin vs $3,581 in Katy, TX, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,471
  • Katy, TX $3,581

A family of three spends $3,249 per month in Medellin vs $4,711 in Katy, TX, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,249
  • Katy, TX $4,711

Medellin is about 31% cheaper than Katy, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Medellin and Katy, TX sit above the global median – Medellin by 25%, Katy, TX by 81%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Katy, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.34 COP 26.9K
$16.88 $16.88
-50.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.53 COP 150.1K
$60.6 $60.6
-23.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 COP 30.5K
$8.85 $8.85
7.01%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 10.1K
$3.49 $3.49
-10.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 COP 5,696
$1.98 $1.98
-10.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 4,594
$2.13 $2.13
-33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 COP 10.2K
$4.07 $4.07
-22.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 COP 18.4K
$5.53 $5.53
3.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Katy, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 COP 4,943
$0.95 $0.95
61.05%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 COP 7,389
$3.53 $3.53
-35.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 COP 6,273
$3.06 $3.06
-36.60%
Eggs
$3.07 COP 9,889
$3.05 $3.05
0.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 COP 32.2K
$13.08 $13.08
-23.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 COP 33.7K
$9.66 $9.66
8.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 COP 45.0K
$16.72 $16.72
-16.51%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 COP 13.1K
$3.83 $3.83
5.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,929
$1.24 $1.24
23.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 COP 6,786
$3.12 $3.12
-32.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 COP 7,397
$3.25 $3.25
-29.54%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 COP 6,803
$2.10 $2.10
0.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 COP 5,512
$2.49 $2.49
-31.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,774
$1.78 $1.78
-34.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 5,096
$1.22 $1.22
29.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 COP 12.6K
$9.68 $9.68
-59.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.04 COP 45.3K
$12.75 $12.75
10.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 COP 5,682
$1.70 $1.70
3.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 COP 8,746
$1.58 $1.58
71.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Katy, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,805
$2.02 $2.02
-41.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.3 COP 246.0K
$107 $107
-28.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 COP 5,827
$2.68 $2.68
-32.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,867
$1.58 $1.58
34.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.13 COP 26.2K
$35.07 $35.07
-76.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 COP 4,113
$0.85 $0.85
50.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K COP 111.1M
$32.3K $32.3K
6.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.1M
$24.5K $24.5K
39.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Katy, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 COP 573.2K
$246 $246
-27.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.89 COP 44.8K
$58.9 $58.9
-76.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.74 COP 99.1K
$70.7 $70.7
-56.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Katy, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.94 COP 135.3K
$25.59 $25.59
63.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 COP 54.2K
$25.19 $25.19
-33.31%
Cinema Ticket
$7.47 COP 24.1K
$11.91 $11.91
-37.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Katy, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.5M
$1,009 $1,009
-21.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K COP 39.7M
$17.8K $17.8K
-30.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Katy, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3 COP 278.4K
$52.8 $52.8
63.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.3 COP 191.1K
$43.00 $43.00
37.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 446.2K
$86.9 $86.9
59.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8 COP 318.7K
$109 $109
-9.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Katy, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 COP 4.3M
$1,544 $1,544
-13.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 COP 2.2M
$1,186 $1,186
-43.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,976 COP 6.4M
$2,750 $2,750
-28.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,033 COP 3.3M
$2,026 $2,026
-49.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,098 COP 13.2M
$2,098 $2,098
95.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,940 COP 6.3M
$1,542 $1,542
25.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Katy, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 COP 2.1M
$4,102 $4,102
-84.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6.41
70.67%

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

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Last update for Katy, TX: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$667
Katy, TX
$1.2K 77.8% $519
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$307
Katy, TX
$332 8.2% $25
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$222
Katy, TX
$375 68.8% $153
Eating Out
Medellin
$173
Katy, TX
$251 45.6% $79
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$172
Katy, TX
$131 23.8% $41
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Katy, TX
$125 34.2% $32
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Katy, TX
$49 13.1% $7.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,341 in Medellin versus $1,544 in Katy, TX. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Katy, TX are about 6.3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $61 in Katy, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 vs $332 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇺🇸 Katy, TX
🕒 Local time
22:39 10:39 PM
21:39 9:39 PM
1 h behind Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
14,102
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 3,225 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,631 COP (10,000 COP = 2.75 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.13 USD (1 USD = 0.888 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Katy, TX 3,360 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Katy, TX

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 Katy, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Katy, TX?
Katy, TX costs about 45% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from utilities. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Katy, TX?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,538 per month in Medellin and $3,677 in Katy, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Katy, TX?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,341 there versus $1,544 in Katy, TX.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Katy, TX?
Groceries cost about 8% more in Katy, TX, though the gap depends on what you buy.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Katy, TX?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $61 in Katy, TX. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Medellin or to Katy, TX?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Katy, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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