Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Khost Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Khost

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,030 in Medellin versus $51 in Khost.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Medellin versus $86 in Khost.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $121 in Khost.

Living in Medellin is roughly 1927% more expensive than Khost, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 23% lower, Khost 96% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.2K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.17 COP 118.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.25 COP 25.9K

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,137

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 COP 3,915

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,743

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 COP 6,254

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 11.4K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,792

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,657

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,926

Eggs

$2.21 COP 7,908

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 COP 16.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 COP 20.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 32.1K

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 COP 8,182

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,791

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 COP 5,411

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,869

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,146

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,174

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 COP 2,960

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 COP 3,043

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.89 ؋121

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 8,423

Wine (Bottle)

$11.09 COP 39.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 COP 4,133

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,853

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,827

$0.42 ؋26.73

88.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.85 COP 149.8K

$17.29 ؋1,110

142.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,140

$0.69 ؋44.06

108.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,793

$0.68 ؋43.78

179.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.70 COP 27.6K

$2.22 ؋143

246.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 COP 3,680

$1.13 ؋72.7

-8.85%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.7K COP 63.3M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.0K COP 96.7M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$81.4 COP 291.4K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.42 COP 33.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.77 COP 85.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.86 COP 92.6K

$7.33 ؋471

252.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.34 COP 69.2K

$5.61 ؋360

244.74%

Cinema Ticket

$4.05 COP 14.5K

$2.93 ؋188

38.23%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,067 COP 21.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 COP 210.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.82 COP 117.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 COP 359.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 COP 380.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 COP 1.8M

$28.95 ؋1,858

1591.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 COP 1.3M

$14.19 ؋911

2512.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$71.1 ؋4,564

1078.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$715 COP 2.6M

$42.38 ؋2,720

1586.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,952 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,394 COP 5.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$532 COP 1.9M

$188 ؋12.0K

183.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

34.30%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026

Last update for Khost: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $490 in Medellin and $29 in Khost. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 184% 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 in Medellin vs $0 in Khost for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $0 per month, with Khost 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 Khost: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Khost is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 1927% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Medellin pays 184% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $490 in Medellin versus $28.95 in Khost. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Khost runs roughly 142% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $1,030 per month in Medellin versus $50.8 in Khost – a 1927% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $50.8 in Khost versus $1,030 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Khost but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Khost the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Khost 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.

Expats usually find Khost gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1927% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.