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: $1,028 in Medellin versus $50.5 in Khost.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Medellin versus $87.0 in Khost.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,144 in Medellin versus $123 in Khost.

Living in Medellin is roughly 1936% 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

$6.00 COP 20.6K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.84 COP 112.5K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.42 COP 25.4K

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,659

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

$1.07 COP 3,663

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 COP 2,607

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,908

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 COP 11.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,597

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 COP 4,479

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 COP 4,591

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,521

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.41 COP 15.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.69 COP 19.5K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 COP 29.2K

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,023

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,804

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,210

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,680

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 3,950

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 COP 4,043

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 COP 2,885

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 COP 2,931

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.86 ؋119

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.26 COP 7,753

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 COP 39.8K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,109

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 8,484

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,721

$0.44 ؋28.57

79.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.83 COP 139.9K

$17.28 ؋1,111

136.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,023

$0.70 ؋45.15

110.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,568

$0.70 ؋44.92

174.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 COP 26.6K

$2.21 ؋142

251.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,464

$1.18 ؋76.1

-14.41%

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

$17.7K COP 60.5M

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

$26.5K COP 90.7M

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

$81.1 COP 277.9K

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

$9.43 COP 32.3K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.86 COP 81.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.99 COP 89.1K

$7.17 ؋461

262.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.71 COP 64.1K

$5.73 ؋368

226.53%

Cinema Ticket

$4.09 COP 14.0K

$2.90 ؋186

41.03%

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

$315 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,022 COP 20.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 COP 204.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.97 COP 109.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 346.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 COP 360.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 COP 1.7M

$28.90 ؋1,858

1579.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$365 COP 1.3M

$14.52 ؋933

2414.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 COP 2.8M

$72.0 ؋4,625

1048.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.5M

$43.04 ؋2,766

1596.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,992 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,314 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$551 COP 1.9M

$193 ؋12.4K

186.08%

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Khost: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $485 in Medellin and $28.90 in Khost. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 186% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 1936% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Medellin pays 186% 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: $485 in Medellin versus $28.90 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 136% 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 $1,028 per month in Medellin versus $50.5 in Khost – a 1936% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $50.5 in Khost versus $1,028 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 1936% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.