Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Koura Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Koura

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,137 in Koura, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,747 in Koura, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $2,357 in Koura, rent included.

Medellin is about 9% cheaper than Koura, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Koura are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Koura 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$10.94 LBP 979.3K

-43.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$61.0 LBP 5.5M

-46.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$7.96 LBP 712.2K

-7.79%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$3.29 LBP 294.4K

-47.72%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$1.57 LBP 140.2K

-33.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.89 LBP 79.4K

-13.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$3.47 LBP 310.6K

-51.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$4.93 LBP 440.9K

-35.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.70 LBP 152.4K

-38.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$0.79 LBP 71.0K

64.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.74 LBP 155.8K

-19.54%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$3.20 LBP 286.4K

-32.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$11.34 LBP 1.0M

-61.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$9.37 LBP 838.2K

-37.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$11.65 LBP 1.0M

-25.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$1.82 LBP 163.1K

25.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$1.47 LBP 131.7K

-24.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$1.13 LBP 101.3K

35.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$1.06 LBP 94.7K

27.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$1.00 LBP 89.2K

13.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$1.04 LBP 92.7K

8.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$0.89 LBP 79.3K

-4.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.53 LBP 47.2K

71.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$2.48 LBP 221.9K

-5.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$9.88 LBP 884.6K

25.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$1.22 LBP 109.6K

-1.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$2.20 LBP 197.2K

13.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$2.06 LBP 184.3K

-59.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$5.04 LBP 450.9K

-71.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$1.23 LBP 109.8K

56.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$20.17 LBP 1.8M

-62.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$0.94 LBP 84.2K

5.32%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$34.6K LBP 3.1B

-47.82%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$28.1K LBP 2.5B

-5.31%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$212 LBP 19.0M

-61.96%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$37.90 LBP 3.4M

-73.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$37.12 LBP 3.3M

-34.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$25.12 LBP 2.2M

-0.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$7.87 LBP 704.5K

-49.43%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$299 LBP 26.8M

2.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$4,434 LBP 396.8M

36.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$71.9 LBP 6.4M

-19.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$44.75 LBP 4.0M

-28.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$122 LBP 10.9M

-17.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$92.6 LBP 8.3M

16.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$246 LBP 22.0M

94.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$200 LBP 17.9M

87.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$445 LBP 39.9M

89.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$352 LBP 31.5M

107.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$1,156 LBP 103.5M

178.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$844 LBP 75.5M

62.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$594 LBP 53.2M

3.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

11.16

20.34%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Koura: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $246 in Koura. 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 4% higher in Medellin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $61.0 in Koura. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $234 – 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 Koura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Koura costs about 10% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,706 in Koura. 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 $1,031 in Medellin and $1,137 in Koura. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Medellin and $299 in Koura. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Koura at $1,137. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Koura it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,031 versus $1,137 in Koura. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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