Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kilifi Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kilifi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $436 in Kilifi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $782 in Kilifi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,128 in Kilifi, rent included.

Medellin costs about 136% more than Kilifi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Kilifi are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Kilifi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$2.25 KES 291

173.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$50.9 KES 6,573

-35.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$2.30 KES 297

219.13%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,600

$1.90 KES 246

-9.47%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.74 KES 95.8

41.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.78 KES 101

-1.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,488

$1.98 KES 256

-14.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$0.88 KES 114

19.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$0.81 KES 104

60.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.90 KES 246

-26.32%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,047

$1.80 KES 233

20.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,426

$2.31 KES 298

-1.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,604

$0.85 KES 109

30.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,983

$1.83 KES 236

-16.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$0.66 KES 84.7

104.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$0.64 KES 83.0

76.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$0.64 KES 82.4

76.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.24 KES 31.15

279.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,630

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$12.82 KES 1,656

-3.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$1.95 KES 253

-38.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,728

$0.78 KES 101

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$27.55 KES 3,559

47.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$0.80 KES 103

140.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.37 KES 177

-27.74%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$15.61 KES 2,017

417.68%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$10.28 KES 1,329

-3.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$25.26 KES 3,263

-4.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.7K

$28.03 KES 3,622

-10.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$7.62 KES 985

-47.77%

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

$305 COP 993.5K

$162 KES 20.9K

88.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$5,072 KES 655.3K

19.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$9.52 KES 1,229

510.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$8.67 KES 1,121

271.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$15.59 KES 2,014

546.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$17.13 KES 2,213

529.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$177 KES 22.8K

169.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$113 KES 14.6K

233.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$275 KES 35.5K

207.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$266 KES 34.4K

174.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$235 KES 30.4K

162.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

67.88%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $177 in Kilifi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 162% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $51.0 in Kilifi. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $100 in Kilifi – so Kilifi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Kilifi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,031 in Medellin, $436 in Kilifi – roughly 136% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $655 in Kilifi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kilifi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Medellin and $162 in Kilifi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 92% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kilifi, where all-in costs run around $436, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Kilifi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $436 in Kilifi to $1,031 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Kilifi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.