Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Krefeld Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Krefeld

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $2,039 in Krefeld.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $3,165 in Krefeld.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $4,290 in Krefeld.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 49% less than in Krefeld, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Krefeld is 53% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Krefeld
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$17.20 €15.07
-64.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$67.2 €58.8
-51.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$12.85 €11.25
-42.88%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$3.57 €3.13
-51.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$2.81 €2.46
-62.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$2.72 €2.38
-71.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$5.71 €5.00
-70.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$4.07 €3.57
-22.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Krefeld
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$1.27 €1.11
-17.32%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$2.20 €1.93
-40.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$3.53 €3.10
-60.34%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$3.80 €3.33
-43.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$14.89 €13.04
-70.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$14.80 €12.96
-60.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$19.07 €16.70
-54.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$3.31 €2.90
-31.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$1.89 €1.66
-41.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$2.38 €2.09
-35.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$4.77 €4.18
-71.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$1.49 €1.31
-24.16%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$1.54 €1.34
-26.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$1.87 €1.64
-54.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$1.12 €0.98
-18.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$9.55 €8.36
-75.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$5.52 €4.83
124.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$1.05 €0.92
14.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$1.63 €1.42
52.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Krefeld
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$3.67 €3.22
-77.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$61.0 €53.4
-33.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$5.82 €5.10
-75.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$2.16 €1.89
-11.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$41.12 €36.01
-81.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$2.06 €1.80
-51.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$31.3K €27.4K
-42.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$35.8K €31.4K
-25.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Krefeld
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$353 €309
-77.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$37.16 €32.54
-73.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$56.2 €49.24
-57.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Krefeld
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$42.42 €37.15
-40.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$23.09 €20.22
-17.06%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$14.09 €12.34
-71.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Krefeld
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$416 €365
-26.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$23.2K €20.3K
-73.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Krefeld
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$94.0 €82.3
-38.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$47.73 €41.80
-32.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$104 €91.4
-3.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$161 €141
-33.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Krefeld
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$741 €649
-35.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$615 €539
-38.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$1,429 €1,252
-40.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$1,216 €1,065
-39.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$3,253 €2,849
-1.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$4,470 €3,915
-69.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Krefeld
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$2,038 €1,785
-69.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
3.98
237.44%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Krefeld: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $741 in Krefeld. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Krefeld pays 230% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $67.0 in Krefeld for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $349 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

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 Krefeld: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Krefeld cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 98% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Krefeld?
On paper, salaries run 230% lower in Krefeld. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Krefeld?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Medellin versus $741 in Krefeld. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Krefeld?
All in, you'll spend $1,031 per month in Medellin versus $2,039 in Krefeld – a 98% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 50% less than in Krefeld. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Krefeld?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $2,039 in Krefeld, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Krefeld. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Krefeld more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Krefeld, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Krefeld?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Krefeld are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in Krefeld. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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