😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,687 in Medellin versus $1,222 in Kempton Park.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,535 in Medellin versus $1,923 in Kempton Park.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,383 in Medellin versus $2,624 in Kempton Park.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 38% more expensive than in Kempton Park, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Kempton Park is 11% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kempton Park
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$9.46R 152
-16.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$39.29R 633
13.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$6.31R 102
47.23%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$2.51R 40.36
15.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$1.07R 17.22
69.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$0.83R 13.44
86.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$2.52R 40.51
28.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$2.83R 45.66
107.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kempton Park
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$1.35R 21.81
2.22%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$1.11R 17.84
120.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$1.80R 28.97
-16.11%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$2.58R 41.56
7.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$8.29R 134
9.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$5.15R 82.9
106.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$8.89R 143
64.57%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$1.97R 31.68
101.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$1.69R 27.26
-18.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$1.84R 29.67
25.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$2.09R 33.63
-3.35%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$1.73R 27.84
20.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$1.77R 28.55
-7.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$1.25R 20.16
-13.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$1.36R 21.97
-8.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$3.40R 54.7
18.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$5.61R 90.4
140.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$1.66R 26.66
-3.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$2.40R 38.72
25.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kempton Park
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$1.58R 25.52
-25.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
$62.2R 1,002
28.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$0.32R 5.22
403.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$0.83R 13.33
156.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$14.93R 240
-42.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$1.48R 23.83
-8.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$35.7KR 575.3K
-20.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$33.2KR 534.1K
7.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kempton Park
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$183R 2,948
-17.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$37.14R 598
-64.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$39.41R 635
-18.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kempton Park
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
$37.85R 610
22.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
$12.30R 198
40.33%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$8.12R 131
-20.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kempton Park
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$270R 4,344
209.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$5,642R 90.9K
57.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kempton Park
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$54.5R 878
63.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$32.34R 521
71.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$92.7R 1,493
47.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$84.1R 1,355
30.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kempton Park
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$313R 5,043
204.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$366R 5,892
82.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$772R 12.4K
161.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$743R 12.0K
54.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
$886R 14.3K
317.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
$638R 10.3K
148.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kempton Park
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
$660R 10.6K
-5.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
11.25
-7.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Kempton Park: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $952 in Medellin and $313 in Kempton Park. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kempton Park pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Medellin vs $39.00 in Kempton Park for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $212 per month, with Kempton Park 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 Kempton Park: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Kempton Park?
Kempton Park wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kempton Park the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in Kempton Park?
On paper, salaries run 5% lower in Kempton Park. 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 Kempton Park?
Rent for a central apartment: $952 in Medellin versus $313 in Kempton Park. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Kempton Park?
Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Kempton Park?
Dining out is cheaper in Kempton Park – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $45.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Kempton Park?
At $1,222 in Kempton Park versus $1,687 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kempton Park but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kempton Park the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Kempton Park?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kempton Park delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,222 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kempton Park hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Kempton Park?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Kempton Park 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 Kempton Park gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.