🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,018 in Medellin versus $2,350 in London, KY.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,609 in Medellin versus $3,352 in London, KY.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,200 in Medellin versus $4,353 in London, KY.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 57% less than in London, KY, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 24% below, London, KY is 76% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
London, KY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.93COP 19.0K
$15.06$15.06
-60.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.12COP 106.0K
$49.34$49.34
-32.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.12COP 22.8K
$7.85$7.85
-9.30%
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 5,457
$4.44$4.44
-61.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,356
$2.05$2.05
-48.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,311
$2.06$2.06
-65.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,502
$5.09$5.09
-66.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.2K
$5.14$5.14
-38.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
London, KY
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,408
$0.83$0.83
27.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,192
$2.67$2.67
-50.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33COP 4,256
$3.93$3.93
-66.16%
Eggs
$2.28COP 7,298
$2.95$2.95
-22.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.42COP 14.1K
$10.52$10.52
-57.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.92COP 18.9K
$9.32$9.32
-36.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 27.7K
$15.27$15.27
-43.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 7,504
$4.25$4.25
-44.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10COP 3,527
$1.38$1.38
-20.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.47COP 4,698
$1.96$1.96
-25.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,415
$2.17$2.17
-36.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,754
$2.05$2.05
-42.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,744
$1.69$1.69
-30.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,890
$1.53$1.53
-41.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COP 2,693
$1.45$1.45
-42.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 7,449
$5.16$5.16
-54.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.92COP 38.1K
$14.96$14.96
-20.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15COP 3,673
$2.06$2.06
-44.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42COP 7,749
$1.78$1.78
35.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
London, KY
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,687
$2.05$2.05
-59.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.83COP 130.7K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COP 4,517
$3.83$3.83
-63.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,127
$1.57$1.57
21.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.83COP 25.0K
$25.22$25.22
-68.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,020
$0.82$0.82
14.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8KCOP 57.0M
$35.0K$35.0K
-49.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KCOP 86.7M
$25.2K$25.2K
7.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
London, KY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.3COP 266.4K
$122$122
-31.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.66COP 30.9K
$57.5$57.5
-83.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.22COP 77.5K
$56.0$56.0
-56.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
London, KY
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.22COP 80.7K
$42.46$42.46
-40.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.33COP 61.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.07COP 13.0K
$11.30$11.30
-63.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
London, KY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307COP 981.2K
$449$449
-31.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,981COP 19.1M
$17.1K$17.1K
-65.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
London, KY
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 191.9K
$28.54$28.54
110.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.65COP 104.5K
$22.08$22.08
47.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 323.5K
$76.3$76.3
32.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 345.7K
$59.7$59.7
81.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
London, KY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COP 1.5M
$585$585
-18.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COP 1.2M
$1,332$1,332
-71.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$816COP 2.6M
$945$945
-13.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$707COP 2.3M
$2,262$2,262
-68.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,190COP 10.2M
$2,973$2,973
7.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446COP 4.6M
$2,264$2,264
-36.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
London, KY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$622COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.2
116.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026
Last update for London, KY: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $585 in London, KY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $49.00 in London, KY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $311 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 London, KY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or London, KY?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 131% lower than in London, KY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in London, KY?
You'd need roughly $1,527 in Medellin and $3,525 in London, KY 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to London, KY?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $585 in London, KY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and in London, KY?
Childcare runs $307 in Medellin versus $449 in London, KY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in London, KY?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $49.00 in London, KY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or in London, KY?
At $1,018 in Medellin versus $2,350 in London, KY, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in London, KY. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or London, KY?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,018 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 131% less than in London, KY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.