Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Krabi

For one person, living is cheaper in Krabi: $1,006 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $7,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Krabi, Thailand
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Krabi
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,006
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Krabi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Krabi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,639 in Medellin versus $1,006 in Krabi.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Krabi $1,006

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,413 in Medellin versus $1,391 in Krabi.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Krabi $1,391

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,186 in Medellin versus $1,775 in Krabi.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Krabi $1,775

Living in Medellin is roughly 63% more expensive than in Krabi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 20% above, Krabi is 26% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Krabi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.4K
$2.94 ฿99.4
175.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 148.0K
$18.85 ฿637
149.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 29.9K
$8.48 ฿286
12.03%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,485
$1.75 ฿59.2
72.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,660
$1.05 ฿35.46
71.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,443
$0.43 ฿14.56
227.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 9,990
$1.79 ฿60.5
77.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.1K
$2.32 ฿78.5
147.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Krabi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,751
$2.25 ฿76.0
-32.89%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,480
$1.50 ฿50.6
58.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,573
$2.07 ฿69.9
-14.49%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,093
$1.88 ฿63.6
53.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.1K
$16.05 ฿542
-36.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.1K
$2.76 ฿93.2
257.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.0K
$7.80 ฿264
79.36%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.5K
$2.37 ฿80.2
67.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,883
$1.03 ฿34.91
50.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,867
$2.21 ฿74.7
-1.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,870
$1.44 ฿48.56
51.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,174
$1.39 ฿46.97
41.01%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,000
$1.29 ฿43.51
23.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,604
$1.47 ฿49.51
-21.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,911
$0.51 ฿17.35
143.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.5K
$4.53 ฿153
-12.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.0K
$10.43 ฿352
31.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,221
$1.74 ฿58.9
-4.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,103
$2.46 ฿83.1
-8.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Krabi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,674
$0.93 ฿31.28
25.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 243.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 3,989
$2.34 ฿79.1
-45.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,442
$1.78 ฿60.2
15.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 26.9K
$6.06 ฿205
41.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,237
$1.37 ฿46.34
-1.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 107.2M
$21.7K ฿733.6K
56.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.1M
$24.4K ฿825.4K
41.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Krabi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 533.7K
$69.1 ฿2,333
145.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.6K
$11.47 ฿387
18.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.3K
$24.42 ฿825
14.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Krabi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 137.5K
$61.9 ฿2,090
-29.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.1K
$9.09 ฿307
89.11%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.7K
$7.33 ฿248
-5.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Krabi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.7M
$8,136 ฿274.7K
12.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Krabi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 266.5K
$14.70 ฿496
476.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 182.3K
$15.01 ฿507
286.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 424.6K
$74.3 ฿2,509
81.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 307.9K
$74.5 ฿2,515
31.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Krabi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$339 ฿11.5K
256.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$414 ฿14.0K
55.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$700 ฿23.6K
189.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$509 ฿17.2K
98.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.1M
$1,186 ฿40.1K
251.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.0M
$1,017 ฿34.4K
87.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Krabi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$708 ฿23.9K
-7.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
7.4
47.84%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Krabi: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Krabi
$414 35.5% $228
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Krabi
$226 23.9% $71
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Krabi
$105 50.3% $106
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Krabi
$90 47.2% $80
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Krabi
$80 52.5% $89
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Krabi
$15 * 84% $79
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Krabi
$77 33.1% $19

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,208 in Medellin and $339 in Krabi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Krabi pays 8% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $47 in Medellin vs $19 in Krabi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $226 per month, with Krabi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇹🇭 Krabi
🕒 Local time
17:08 5:08 PM
05:08 5:08 AM
12 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
50,000
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 3,146 COP (10,000 COP = 3.18 USD). 1 EUR = 3,502 COP (10,000 COP = 2.86 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Krabi 18,310 km ≈ 23 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Krabi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Krabi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Krabi?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,639 in Medellin and $1,006 in Krabi, so Krabi is about 39% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 7% lower in Medellin. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Krabi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,208 in Medellin versus $339 in Krabi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Krabi – a meal for two runs $19 versus $47 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Krabi?
All in, you’ll spend $1,639 per month in Medellin versus $1,006 in Krabi – Krabi is about 39% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How far does $2,000 go in Medellin compared to Krabi?
Either city works on $2,000 a month, though Krabi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Krabi?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

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