Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kisii Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kisii

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $64.5 in Kisii.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $98.0 in Kisii.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $132 in Kisii.

Living in Medellin is roughly 1498% more expensive than in Kisii, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 23% lower, Kisii 95% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$1.36 KES 176

26.47%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$1.30 KES 168

-19.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$1.79 KES 231

-5.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$2.26 KES 292

40.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$0.52 KES 66.7

150.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$1.88 KES 243

14.89%

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 7,425

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$0.37 KES 48.22

127.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$15.17 KES 1,961

167.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$0.81 KES 104

75.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.57 KES 203

-36.94%

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

$11.8K KES 1.5M

126.05%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

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

$305 COP 993.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

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

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kisii: July 11, 2026

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 Kisii: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kisii wins on cost – living expenses run 1498% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kisii the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,546 in Medellin and $96.8 in Kisii to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

All in, you'll spend $1,031 per month in Medellin versus $64.5 in Kisii – a 1498% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1419% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $64.5 in Kisii versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kisii but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kisii the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Kisii delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $64.5 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kisii hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Kisii gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1498% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.