😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,641 in Medellin versus $1,221 in Kelcyre.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,447 in Medellin versus $1,882 in Kelcyre.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,253 in Medellin versus $2,544 in Kelcyre.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 34% more expensive than in Kelcyre, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 19% above, Kelcyre is 11% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kelcyre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$10.05ALL 794
-20.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$53.3ALL 4,208
-9.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$11.17ALL 882
-15.67%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$2.38ALL 188
23.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$2.49ALL 197
-25.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$1.35ALL 106
8.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
$3.58ALL 283
-10.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$4.25ALL 336
34.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kelcyre
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$2.30ALL 182
-37.39%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$1.23ALL 97.3
95.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$2.41ALL 191
-29.46%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$3.79ALL 299
-23.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$13.66ALL 1,079
-26.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$9.33ALL 737
6.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$17.26ALL 1,363
-17.73%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$1.94ALL 153
105.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$2.50ALL 198
-36.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$2.29ALL 181
-6.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
$1.86ALL 147
23.66%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$1.03ALL 81.4
94.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$1.29ALL 102
17.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$1.49ALL 117
-19.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$0.80ALL 63.2
60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$5.00ALL 395
-23.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$11.39ALL 900
23.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
$1.79ALL 142
-4.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
$2.05ALL 162
33.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kelcyre
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
$0.48ALL 38.17
160.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
$20.02ALL 1,582
289.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$3.87ALL 306
-66.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$3.83ALL 303
-43.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$19.05ALL 1,505
-56.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$2.40ALL 190
-43.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$35.3KALL 2.8M
-22.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$37.0KALL 2.9M
-1.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kelcyre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$103ALL 8,146
63.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$18.88ALL 1,491
-28.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$20.80ALL 1,643
36.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kelcyre
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
$57.7ALL 4,559
-20.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$9.98ALL 788
-33.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kelcyre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$349ALL 27.6K
130.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$8,304ALL 655.8K
10.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kelcyre
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$49.80ALL 3,933
75.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$48.27ALL 3,812
23.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$123ALL 9,704
13.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$117ALL 9,203
-12.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kelcyre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$490ALL 38.7K
118.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$336ALL 26.6K
94.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$724ALL 57.2K
165.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$473ALL 37.4K
121.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
$1,875ALL 148.1K
119.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
$1,256ALL 99.2K
35.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kelcyre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
5.64
93.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Kelcyre: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,071 in Medellin and $490 in Kelcyre. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $53.0 in Kelcyre for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $300 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 Kelcyre: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kelcyre cheaper than Medellin?
Kelcyre is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,462 in Medellin and $1,832 in Kelcyre to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Kelcyre?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,071 in Medellin versus $490 in Kelcyre. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Kelcyre runs roughly 289% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $803 in Medellin versus $349 in Kelcyre. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Kelcyre?
At $1,221 in Kelcyre versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kelcyre but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kelcyre the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Kelcyre more family-friendly?
For families, Kelcyre is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Kelcyre?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Kelcyre 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Kelcyre gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.