Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kingstown Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kingstown

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $1,306 in Kingstown, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $2,109 in Kingstown, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $2,912 in Kingstown, rent included.

Medellin is about 21% cheaper than Kingstown, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Kingstown are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Kingstown 2% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kingstown
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.4K
$7.28 EC$19.64
-18.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COP 118.2K
$71.7 EC$194
-54.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COP 26.0K
$10.98 EC$29.65
-34.43%
Cappuccino
$1.70 COP 6,140
$3.31 EC$8.95
-48.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,966
$2.11 EC$5.70
-47.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,605
$2.05 EC$5.55
-64.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COP 6,022
$1.88 EC$5.09
-11.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COP 11.2K
$2.16 EC$5.83
43.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kingstown
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,809
$3.22 EC$8.70
-67.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 4,497
$2.00 EC$5.41
-37.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COP 5,022
$1.66 EC$4.48
-16.27%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,168
$4.52 EC$12.21
-50.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 15.6K
$11.62 EC$31.38
-62.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COP 21.1K
$4.73 EC$12.78
23.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COP 31.9K
$12.20 EC$32.93
-27.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,099
$8.92 EC$24.07
-74.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,882
$2.94 EC$7.93
-63.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,522
$8.61 EC$23.23
-82.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,950
$5.28 EC$14.24
-74.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,078
$3.82 EC$10.30
-70.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,036
$3.18 EC$8.58
-64.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,057
$4.14 EC$11.19
-79.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 3,281
$3.05 EC$8.23
-70.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 8,414
$4.00 EC$10.80
-41.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COP 40.2K
$16.89 EC$45.60
-34.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 4,309
$2.13 EC$5.74
-44.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 8,553
$2.37 EC$6.41
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kingstown
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,838
$1.23 EC$3.32
-35.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COP 148.5K
$49.98 EC$135
-17.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,184
$11.04 EC$29.82
-86.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,901
$1.84 EC$4.96
3.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COP 28.9K
$29.38 EC$79.3
-72.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,385
$3.07 EC$8.30
-69.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 64.7M
$37.4K EC$100.9K
-52.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 96.7M
$30.5K EC$82.4K
-12.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kingstown
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COP 303.1K
$74.1 EC$200
13.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COP 34.7K
$28.73 EC$77.6
-66.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COP 87.2K
$54.8 EC$148
-55.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kingstown
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COP 93.4K
$31.95 EC$86.3
-19.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COP 68.7K
$4.51 EC$12.17
322.17%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.1K
$4.52 EC$12.22
-13.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kingstown
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.1M
$118 EC$319
159.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COP 21.4M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kingstown
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 209.1K
$80.3 EC$217
-27.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 114.9K
$65.7 EC$177
-51.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COP 360.6K
$93.7 EC$253
6.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 386.8K
$84.8 EC$229
26.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kingstown
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COP 1.8M
$334 EC$901
45.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.3M
$317 EC$857
16.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COP 3.0M
$545 EC$1,470
51.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$488 EC$1,319
46.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COP 10.6M
$606 EC$1,637
382.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COP 5.1M
$596 EC$1,610
135.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kingstown
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COP 2.0M
$1,050 EC$2,835
-48.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
7.5
79.07%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Kingstown: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $334 in Kingstown. 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 92% higher in Kingstown, 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 $72.0 in Kingstown. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $415 – 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 Kingstown: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kingstown cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Kingstown is pricier by about 26%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,959 in Kingstown. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 22% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Medellin and $118 in Kingstown. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Kingstown?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Kingstown at $1,306. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kingstown it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Kingstown more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kingstown makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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