😐A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $617 in Nanyuki, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,015 in Nanyuki, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,413 in Nanyuki, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 68% more than Nanyuki, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Medellin and Nanyuki are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Nanyuki54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Nanyuki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$3.84KES 496
54.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$30.83KES 3,979
6.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$6.78KES 875
6.19%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$1.82KES 235
-6.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$0.76KES 98.4
44.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$0.50KES 64.2
44.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$2.39KES 308
-30.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$2.83KES 365
9.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Nanyuki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$0.89KES 115
19.10%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$0.57KES 73.8
119.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$1.19KES 154
16.81%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$1.51KES 196
49.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$11.45KES 1,478
-62.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$6.63KES 856
-11.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$3.78KES 488
133.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$3.18KES 410
-29.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$1.05KES 135
2.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$2.15KES 278
-28.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$1.00KES 129
37.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$1.07KES 138
5.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$1.13KES 145
-0.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$0.69KES 88.8
23.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$0.81KES 104
12.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$2.75KES 355
-15.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
$11.55KES 1,491
-3.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$1.90KES 245
-37.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$1.96KES 253
20.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Nanyuki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$0.41KES 52.5
92.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$1.57KES 202
-8.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$1.50KES 193
27.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$2.86KES 369
180.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$1.19KES 154
-21.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$22.0KKES 2.8M
-18.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$19.9KKES 2.6M
34.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Nanyuki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$33.69KES 4,348
149.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$16.87KES 2,177
-43.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$39.58KES 5,109
-38.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Nanyuki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$54.4KES 7,016
-52.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$6.08KES 785
-35.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Nanyuki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$64.5KES 8,318
375.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$7,609KES 982.1K
-22.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Nanyuki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$17.94KES 2,316
222.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$24.29KES 3,135
31.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$65.7KES 8,481
52.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$57.7KES 7,440
85.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Nanyuki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$95.2KES 12.3K
411.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$78.3KES 10.1K
370.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$330KES 42.6K
150.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$210KES 27.1K
240.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Nanyuki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
$117KES 15.0K
368.17%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Nanyuki: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $95.2 in Nanyuki. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 368% 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 $31.00 in Nanyuki. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $195 in Nanyuki – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Nanyuki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nanyuki cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 68%, 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $925 in Nanyuki. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nanyuki, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Nanyuki?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $31.00 in Nanyuki. 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 Nanyuki?
Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Medellin or Nanyuki?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nanyuki, where all-in costs run around $617, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Nanyuki it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Nanyuki more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nanyuki – 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 Nanyuki. 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.