Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Malindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Malindi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $364 in Malindi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $596 in Malindi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $829 in Malindi, rent included.

Medellin costs about 175% more than Malindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Malindi are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Malindi 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$2.11 KES 272

180.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.9K

$31.20 KES 4,033

5.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,211

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

$1.10 COP 3,471

$1.53 KES 198

-28.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,460

$0.89 KES 115

-12.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,416

$3.54 KES 457

-51.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$3.40 KES 439

-6.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,477

$0.98 KES 127

12.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,965

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,353

$1.26 KES 163

9.52%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,864

$2.91 KES 376

-25.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.2K

$11.44 KES 1,479

-60.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.3K

$6.05 KES 781

-4.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.3K

$5.15 KES 665

74.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,314

$3.05 KES 395

-23.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,355

$0.76 KES 97.9

39.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,778

$2.64 KES 341

-42.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,273

$0.71 KES 91.3

91.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,555

$0.75 KES 96.4

50.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,692

$0.71 KES 92.2

64.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,840

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,826

$0.52 KES 67.4

73.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,039

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$7.65 KES 989

58.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,746

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,822

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,690

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,462

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,146

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,121

$1.37 KES 177

-27.74%

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

$17.6K COP 55.5M

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

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

$83.0 COP 261.6K

$78.4 KES 10.1K

5.85%

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

$9.70 COP 30.6K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$31.23 KES 4,037

-24.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.6K

$38.06 KES 4,919

-33.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.2K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

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

$316 COP 995.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 189.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$382 KES 49.3K

122.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 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 27, 2026

Last update for Malindi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $31.00 in Malindi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $166 – making Malindi 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 Malindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 175% more than Malindi, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $546 in Malindi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $364 in Malindi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Malindi, where all-in costs run around $364, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Malindi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Malindi costs $364 versus $1,003 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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