Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Molo Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Molo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $516 in Molo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $847 in Molo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,178 in Molo, rent included.

Medellin costs about 97% more than Molo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Molo are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Molo 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$5.37 KES 696

10.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$38.20 KES 4,953

-12.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$6.68 KES 866

8.23%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.43 KES 316

-32.92%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.72 KES 93.3

51.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.50 KES 64.7

46.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$2.39 KES 310

-27.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$2.86 KES 371

12.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$0.94 KES 122

11.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.53 KES 68.5

143.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.64 KES 213

-19.51%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.68 KES 218

35.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$11.60 KES 1,504

-62.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$6.68 KES 866

-11.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$5.77 KES 749

49.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$3.06 KES 397

-26.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.05 KES 136

1.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$2.10 KES 273

-27.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.02 KES 132

39.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.08 KES 140

8.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.11 KES 144

5.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.64 KES 83.0

39.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.75 KES 96.9

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$3.02 KES 392

-25.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$11.46 KES 1,486

-3.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$2.18 KES 283

-47.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.75 KES 356

-13.45%

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

$1.58 KES 205

-10.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$1.58 KES 204

20.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$2.91 KES 378

166.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.56 KES 203

-35.26%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$21.3K KES 2.8M

-17.52%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$19.7K KES 2.6M

34.39%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$34.50 KES 4,474

142.55%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$16.63 KES 2,156

-43.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$38.70 KES 5,018

-37.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$6.37 KES 826

-35.64%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$206 KES 26.8K

51.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$8,045 KES 1.0M

-25.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$18.33 KES 2,376

216.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$24.45 KES 3,170

33.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$66.5 KES 8,625

49.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$55.6 KES 7,205

95.32%

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

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

$388 KES 50.3K

39.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

14.84

-9.50%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Molo: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 39% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $38.00 in Molo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $205 – making Medellin 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 Molo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 97%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $774 in Molo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $38.00 in Molo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Molo, where all-in costs run around $516, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Molo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Molo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Molo. 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.