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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $430 in Kilifi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $770 in Kilifi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,110 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 24% lower, Kilifi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$2.27 KES 294

163.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$50.9 KES 6,593

-35.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$2.37 KES 307

199.16%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$1.91 KES 248

-10.47%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$0.80 KES 103

37.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$0.76 KES 98.2

2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$1.89 KES 245

-11.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$0.88 KES 114

23.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$0.75 KES 97.2

68.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.96 KES 254

-29.59%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$1.88 KES 243

16.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$2.28 KES 295

2.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$0.90 KES 117

17.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$1.79 KES 232

-16.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$0.70 KES 90.2

97.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$0.64 KES 82.5

79.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$0.60 KES 77.6

93.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.24 KES 31.25

250.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$12.57 KES 1,628

-15.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$1.97 KES 255

-39.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$0.75 KES 97.6

14.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$26.74 KES 3,464

54.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$0.76 KES 98.1

157.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.31 KES 170

-27.48%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$15.25 KES 1,976

439.34%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$10.26 KES 1,329

-7.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$24.87 KES 3,222

-2.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$27.59 KES 3,574

-6.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$7.57 KES 981

-48.08%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$163 KES 21.1K

90.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$4,961 KES 642.6K

20.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$9.76 KES 1,265

501.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$9.06 KES 1,174

257.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$15.31 KES 1,984

570.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$17.27 KES 2,238

527.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$177 KES 22.9K

169.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$114 KES 14.7K

232.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$266 KES 34.5K

214.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$269 KES 34.8K

169.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$228 KES 29.5K

124.41%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 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 124% 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 – $188 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: $1,013 in Medellin, $430 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $645 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 $309 per month in Medellin and $163 in Kilifi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 88% 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 $430, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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 $430 in Kilifi to $1,013 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.