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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $348 in Malindi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $571 in Malindi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $794 in Malindi, rent included.

Medellin costs about 192% more than Malindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Malindi are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Malindi 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$2.12 KES 274

180.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$30.55 KES 3,962

9.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$1.60 KES 207

-31.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.91 KES 119

-19.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$3.57 KES 463

-51.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$3.56 KES 461

-9.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$0.97 KES 126

8.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.27 KES 164

3.94%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.92 KES 379

-22.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$11.84 KES 1,535

-63.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$6.05 KES 785

-2.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$5.11 KES 662

68.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$3.03 KES 393

-25.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$0.78 KES 101

37.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$2.67 KES 347

-43.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$0.67 KES 87.3

111.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.75 KES 97.4

56.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.70 KES 91.0

67.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.48 KES 62.0

87.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.36 KES 176

-25.74%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$76.8 KES 9,957

8.96%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$30.80 KES 3,993

-21.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$38.73 KES 5,021

-34.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$392 KES 50.8K

113.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Malindi: June 7, 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: $190 vs $151 – 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 192% 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $522 in Malindi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $348 in Malindi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 26% 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 $348, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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 $348 versus $1,017 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.