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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $509 in Molo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $843 in Molo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,176 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 25% lower, Molo 62% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Molo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91 COP 18.6K
$5.51 KES 713
7.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 COP 103.8K
$39.20 KES 5,067
-15.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 23.4K
$6.87 KES 888
8.15%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,207
$2.45 KES 316
-32.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,468
$0.72 KES 92.7
52.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,458
$0.54 KES 69.5
44.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,412
$2.27 KES 294
-24.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$2.87 KES 370
10.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Molo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COP 3,474
$0.92 KES 119
19.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 3,962
$0.57 KES 73.8
121.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,349
$1.59 KES 206
-13.21%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 6,858
$1.68 KES 217
29.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 COP 14.1K
$11.53 KES 1,490
-61.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.79 COP 18.2K
$6.85 KES 885
-15.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 28.2K
$5.46 KES 706
64.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 COP 7,308
$3.14 KES 406
-26.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,352
$1.07 KES 138
-0.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,774
$2.14 KES 276
-28.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,270
$1.06 KES 137
28.30%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,552
$1.03 KES 133
9.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,689
$1.12 KES 145
4.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,838
$0.65 KES 83.4
38.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,823
$0.81 KES 105
11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 COP 7,034
$3.04 KES 393
-26.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 COP 38.2K
$11.71 KES 1,514
3.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 3,743
$2.22 KES 287
-46.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 7,815
$2.68 KES 346
-7.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Molo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 COP 2,687
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.62 COP 131.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,459
$1.50 KES 194
-5.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 6,141
$1.51 KES 195
29.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 24.8K
$2.83 KES 366
178.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,118
$1.59 KES 206
-37.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 55.4M
$21.7K KES 2.8M
-18.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 84.4M
$20.2K KES 2.6M
32.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Molo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 261.4K
$34.40 KES 4,447
141.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 COP 30.5K
$17.11 KES 2,211
-43.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 COP 74.1K
$39.29 KES 5,078
-40.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Molo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.26 COP 79.5K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 COP 60.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 12.4K
$6.28 KES 812
-37.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Molo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COP 994.2K
$202 KES 26.1K
56.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,975 COP 18.8M
$7,932 KES 1.0M
-24.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Molo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 188.9K
$18.28 KES 2,363
228.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 100.2K
$24.43 KES 3,157
30.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 320.1K
$66.2 KES 8,560
53.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 338.3K
$57.0 KES 7,361
88.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Molo
Difference
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
-
-
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
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Molo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$624 COP 2.0M
$390 KES 50.4K
60.08%
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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Molo: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 60% 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 $39.00 in Molo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $207 – 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
Is Molo cheaper than Medellin?
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.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $763 in Molo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Molo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $39.00 in Molo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Molo?
Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Molo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Molo, where all-in costs run around $509, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Molo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Molo more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

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