😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $370 in Kawasoti.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $615 in Kawasoti.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $859 in Kawasoti.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 179% more expensive than in Kawasoti, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Kawasoti72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kawasoti
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$1.85NPR 286
232.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$18.95NPR 2,923
72.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$6.61NPR 1,019
11.04%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$1.86NPR 287
-7.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$0.55NPR 84.1
90.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$0.18NPR 27.23
327.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$2.52NPR 389
-32.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$3.60NPR 555
-11.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kawasoti
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$0.82NPR 127
28.05%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$0.54NPR 83.8
140.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$0.99NPR 152
41.41%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$1.78NPR 274
21.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$8.84NPR 1,363
-50.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$2.88NPR 443
104.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$6.25NPR 964
38.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$2.20NPR 339
3.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$0.85NPR 130
30.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$0.75NPR 116
104.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$0.53NPR 81.9
154.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$0.35NPR 53.8
222.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$0.54NPR 82.6
109.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$0.35NPR 53.8
142.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.27NPR 41.95
237.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$2.88NPR 444
-18.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$2.63NPR 406
370.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$2.28NPR 351
-47.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$2.87NPR 443
-13.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kawasoti
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$0.22NPR 33.33
281.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$0.76NPR 118
86.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$0.88NPR 136
118.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$2.14NPR 329
257.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$1.23NPR 189
-19.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$32.4KNPR 5.0M
-44.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$40.5KNPR 6.3M
-34.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kawasoti
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$18.51NPR 2,855
336.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$3.72NPR 574
167.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$7.42NPR 1,144
225.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kawasoti
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$18.39NPR 2,836
36.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$7.18NPR 1,107
166.71%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$1.78NPR 275
123.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kawasoti
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$91.1NPR 14.0K
235.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$3,825NPR 589.9K
58.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kawasoti
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$14.73NPR 2,272
294.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$11.06NPR 1,705
191.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$21.63NPR 3,335
365.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$10.98NPR 1,693
881.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kawasoti
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$106NPR 16.4K
348.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$62.8NPR 9,689
498.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$210NPR 32.4K
301.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$145NPR 22.3K
404.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kawasoti
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$226NPR 34.8K
173.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
12
11.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Kawasoti: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $106 in Kawasoti. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 173% 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $19.00 in Kawasoti for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $135 per month, with Kawasoti 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 Kawasoti: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Kawasoti?
Medellin and Kawasoti differ by about 179% in total monthly costs ($1,031 vs $370 including rent). Kawasoti is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Medellin or Kawasoti?
Average pay runs 173% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Kawasoti?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Medellin versus $106 in Kawasoti. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Kawasoti?
All in, you'll spend $1,031 per month in Medellin versus $370 in Kawasoti – a 179% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $370 in Kawasoti versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kawasoti but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kawasoti the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Kawasoti?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Medellin or Kawasoti safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Kawasoti are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Kawasoti?
Expats usually find Kawasoti gentler on the wallet – expenses run 179% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.