Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kingston Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kingston

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,018 per month in Medellin vs $2,333 in Kingston, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,609 per month in Medellin vs $3,300 in Kingston, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,200 per month in Medellin vs $4,267 in Kingston, rent included.

Medellin is about 56% cheaper than Kingston, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Kingston is 75% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.93 COP 19.1K

$16.32 CA$23.02

-63.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.12 COP 106.4K

$74.1 CA$104

-55.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.12 COP 22.9K

$11.58 CA$16.34

-38.51%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 5,480

$3.57 CA$5.04

-52.10%

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

$1.05 COP 3,370

$1.92 CA$2.71

-45.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,321

$1.36 CA$1.92

-47.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,524

$6.02 CA$8.49

-71.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.2K

$6.65 CA$9.39

-52.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,422

$2.54 CA$3.58

-58.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 COP 4,209

$2.46 CA$3.47

-46.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 COP 4,273

$4.08 CA$5.76

-67.40%

Eggs

$2.28 COP 7,328

$2.85 CA$4.02

-20.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.42 COP 14.2K

$10.62 CA$14.98

-58.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.92 COP 19.0K

$11.61 CA$16.38

-49.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 27.8K

$11.48 CA$16.20

-24.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 7,535

$3.67 CA$5.18

-36.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 COP 3,541

$1.31 CA$1.84

-16.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 COP 4,718

$4.18 CA$5.90

-64.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,433

$4.78 CA$6.75

-71.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,769

$3.41 CA$4.81

-65.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,760

$2.41 CA$3.40

-51.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,902

$3.06 CA$4.31

-70.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,704

$1.65 CA$2.32

-49.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 7,480

$13.64 CA$19.24

-82.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.92 COP 38.3K

$12.17 CA$17.16

-2.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 COP 3,688

$2.35 CA$3.32

-51.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 COP 7,780

$3.36 CA$4.74

-27.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,698

$2.51 CA$3.54

-66.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.83 COP 131.2K

$58.5 CA$82.6

-30.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,535

$3.31 CA$4.66

-57.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,152

$1.59 CA$2.24

20.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.83 COP 25.1K

$33.32 CA$47.00

-76.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,033

$1.08 CA$1.52

-12.96%

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

$17.8K COP 57.3M

$25.0K CA$35.3K

-28.78%

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

$27.1K COP 87.0M

$21.2K CA$29.9K

27.83%

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

$83.3 COP 267.5K

$130 CA$183

-35.80%

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

$9.66 COP 31.0K

$44.20 CA$62.3

-78.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.22 COP 77.8K

$78.5 CA$111

-69.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.22 COP 81.1K

$32.55 CA$45.92

-22.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.33 COP 62.1K

$9.32 CA$13.15

107.40%

Cinema Ticket

$4.07 COP 13.1K

$10.85 CA$15.30

-62.49%

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

$307 COP 985.2K

$437 CA$617

-29.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,981 COP 19.2M

$11.6K CA$16.4K

-48.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 192.6K

$46.23 CA$65.2

29.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.65 COP 104.9K

$36.01 CA$50.8

-9.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 324.8K

$95.9 CA$135

5.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 347.2K

$93.4 CA$132

15.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.5M

$1,299 CA$1,833

-63.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.2M

$1,157 CA$1,632

-67.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$816 COP 2.6M

$2,097 CA$2,958

-61.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$707 COP 2.3M

$1,666 CA$2,350

-57.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,190 COP 10.2M

$3,421 CA$4,825

-6.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,446 COP 4.6M

$2,507 CA$3,536

-42.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$622 COP 2.0M

$3,011 CA$4,247

-79.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

6.69

100.75%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026

Last update for Kingston: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $1,299 in Kingston. 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 384% higher in Kingston, 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 $74.0 in Kingston. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $359 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,018 in Medellin, $2,333 in Kingston – roughly 129% apart. Kingston costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,527 per month in Medellin and $3,499 in Kingston. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,018 in Medellin and $2,333 in Kingston. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 43% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,018, than in Kingston at $2,333. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kingston 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 $1,018 in Medellin to $2,333 in Kingston. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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