Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Khoy Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Khoy

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $537 in Khoy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $829 in Khoy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $1,121 in Khoy.

Living in Medellin is roughly 93% more expensive than Khoy, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 23% lower, Khoy 60% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Khoy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.4K
$3.90 $3.90
51.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COP 118.2K
$17.15 $17.15
90.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COP 26.0K
$4.60 $4.60
56.52%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.62 $0.62
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.05 $1.05
-
Cappuccino
$1.70 COP 6,140
$1.10 $1.10
54.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,966
$0.46 $0.46
139.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,605
$1.00 $1.00
-28.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COP 6,022
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COP 11.2K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Khoy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,809
$0.59 $0.59
79.66%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 4,497
$0.56 $0.56
123.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COP 5,022
$1.87 $1.87
-25.67%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,168
$1.18 $1.18
91.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 15.6K
$3.50 $3.50
23.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COP 21.1K
$3.77 $3.77
54.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COP 31.9K
$10.18 $10.18
-13.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,099
$0.87 $0.87
157.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,882
$1.10 $1.10
-1.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,522
$1.33 $1.33
15.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,950
$0.54 $0.54
153.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,078
$0.64 $0.64
76.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,036
$0.71 $0.71
57.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,057
$0.68 $0.68
25.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 3,281
$0.28 $0.28
225.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.02 $1.02
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.49 $0.49
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.37 $1.37
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 8,414
$2.14 $2.14
8.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COP 40.2K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 4,309
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 8,553
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Khoy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,838
$0.14 $0.14
464.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COP 148.5K
$10.04 $10.04
309.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,184
$0.34 $0.34
323.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,901
$0.29 $0.29
558.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COP 28.9K
$2.01 $2.01
299.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,385
$0.73 $0.73
28.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 64.7M
$72.4K $72.4K
-75.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 96.7M
$55.7K $55.7K
-51.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Khoy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COP 303.1K
$15.89 $15.89
428.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COP 34.7K
$2.04 $2.04
370.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COP 87.2K
$5.72 $5.72
322.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Khoy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COP 93.4K
$15.88 $15.88
62.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COP 68.7K
$12.72 $12.72
49.69%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.1K
$1.51 $1.51
159.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Khoy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.1M
$116 $116
163.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COP 21.4M
$1,992 $1,992
197.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Khoy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 209.1K
$22.20 $22.20
160.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 114.9K
$25.14 $25.14
26.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COP 360.6K
$112 $112
-10.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 386.8K
$69.6 $69.6
54.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Khoy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COP 1.8M
$286 $286
70.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.3M
$197 $197
86.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COP 3.0M
$626 $626
31.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$323 $323
121.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COP 10.6M
$1,097 $1,097
166.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COP 5.1M
$572 $572
146.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Khoy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COP 2.0M
$223 $223
144.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
22.24
-39.61%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Khoy: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $286 in Khoy. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 144% 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $17.00 in Khoy for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $112 per month, with Khoy 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 Khoy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and Khoy?
Medellin and Khoy differ by about 93% in total monthly costs ($1,034 vs $537 including rent). Khoy is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Medellin or Khoy?
Medellin pays 144% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and Khoy?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $286 in Khoy. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Khoy – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Khoy?
All in, you'll spend $1,034 per month in Medellin versus $537 in Khoy – a 93% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $537 in Khoy versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Khoy but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Khoy the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Khoy?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Medellin or Khoy safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Khoy are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Khoy?
Expats usually find Khoy gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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