Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kettering

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,614 a month against $1,921 in Kettering, rent and utilities included – about $3,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Kettering
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$1,921
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Kettering

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,614 in Medellin versus $1,921 in Kettering.

  • Medellin $1,614
  • Kettering $1,921

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,402 in Medellin versus $2,555 in Kettering.

  • Medellin $2,402
  • Kettering $2,555

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,190 in Medellin versus $3,189 in Kettering.

  • Medellin $3,190
  • Kettering $3,189

Living in Medellin costs roughly 16% less than in Kettering, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin 20% above, Kettering 42% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kettering
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.93 COP 25.2K
$19.80 £14.86
-59.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.13 COP 146.3K
$80.4 £60.3
-42.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$10.75 £8.07
-11.63%
Cappuccino
$3.11 COP 9,866
$4.59 £3.44
-32.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 COP 5,800
$2.10 £1.58
-12.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,360
$1.53 £1.15
-9.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 COP 9,672
$5.75 £4.31
-46.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50 COP 17.4K
$5.35 £4.01
2.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kettering
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 COP 4,600
$1.44 £1.08
0.69%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 COP 7,496
$1.76 £1.32
34.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 COP 5,328
$2.71 £2.03
-38.01%
Eggs
$2.86 COP 9,077
$3.98 £2.99
-28.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.3K
$9.01 £6.76
13.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 COP 30.2K
$7.54 £5.66
26.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 COP 44.5K
$16.40 £12.30
-14.39%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 COP 12.9K
$3.30 £2.48
23.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,742
$1.54 £1.15
-2.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 COP 6,891
$2.67 £2.01
-18.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 COP 7,310
$3.16 £2.37
-26.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 COP 6,113
$1.21 £0.91
59.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 COP 5,196
$1.71 £1.28
-4.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 COP 3,571
$1.21 £0.91
-6.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,954
$1.24 £0.93
0.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 COP 12.6K
$23.65 £17.74
-83.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 COP 42.3K
$9.70 £7.28
37.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 COP 5,384
$3.28 £2.46
-48.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 7,525
$2.39 £1.79
-0.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kettering
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 COP 3,827
$2.59 £1.94
-53.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.5 COP 242.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 COP 4,179
$4.09 £3.07
-67.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 COP 6,774
$1.59 £1.19
34.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.47 COP 26.8K
$31.82 £23.87
-73.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,114
$2.00 £1.50
-35.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K COP 88.7M
$37.6K £28.2K
-25.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 112.3M
$41.0K £30.7K
-13.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kettering
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 COP 545.6K
$200 £150
-13.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.4K
$16.23 £12.17
-17.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.73 COP 91.1K
$43.94 £32.96
-34.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kettering
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.24 COP 143.5K
$39.72 £29.80
13.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04 COP 54.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 COP 19.9K
$12.96 £9.73
-51.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kettering
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$770 COP 2.4M
$1,503 £1,128
-48.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,011 COP 28.6M
$22.3K £16.7K
-59.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kettering
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 COP 274.0K
$86.4 £64.8
0.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 COP 181.1K
$31.23 £23.43
82.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 432.9K
$73.9 £55.4
84.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 310.4K
$97.2 £72.9
0.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kettering
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 COP 3.3M
$1,053 £790
0.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 COP 2.0M
$851 £638
-27.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 COP 6.0M
$1,071 £804
76.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 COP 3.2M
$758 £569
34.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,059 COP 12.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,678 COP 5.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kettering
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 COP 2.1M
$4,330 £3,248
-84.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
5.06
116.21%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Last update for Kettering: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$616
Kettering
$851 38.1% $235
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$295
Kettering
$292 0.8% $2.4
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$214
Kettering
$260 21.5% $46
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$170
Kettering
$130 23.6% $40
Eating Out
Medellin
$168
Kettering
$300 78% $131
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Kettering
$22 * 76% $71
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Kettering
$66 13.6% $7.8

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,055 in Medellin and $1,053 in Kettering. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kettering pays 564% 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: $46.00 in Medellin vs $80.0 in Kettering. Groceries flip the comparison at $295 vs $292, with Kettering cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇬🇧 Kettering
🕒 Local time
14:00 2:00 PM
20:00 8:00 PM
6 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
56,676
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GBP, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

British Pound exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.75 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.843 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Kettering 8,430 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Kettering

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 Kettering: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kettering cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, leisure, and utilities. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Kettering?
On paper, salaries run 564% lower in Kettering. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Kettering?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,055 in Medellin versus $1,053 in Kettering. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Kettering?
Shoppers in Kettering pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Kettering?
All in, you'll spend $1,614 per month in Medellin versus $1,921 in Kettering – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Kettering?
At $1,614 in Medellin versus $1,921 in Kettering, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Kettering. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Kettering more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kettering, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Kettering?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Kettering 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 Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Kettering. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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