😐A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $637 in Nanyuki, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $1,075 in Nanyuki, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $1,513 in Nanyuki, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 165% more than Nanyuki, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Nanyuki is 53% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Nanyuki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$5.39KES 698
46.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$35.12KES 4,544
26.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$6.04KES 781
53.81%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$2.71KES 350
7.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$0.62KES 80.2
191.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$0.53KES 68.5
192.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$2.29KES 296
41.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$2.68KES 347
119.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Nanyuki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$0.84KES 109
64.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$0.57KES 73.5
329.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$1.18KES 152
27.97%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$1.65KES 213
68.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$10.88KES 1,407
-16.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$6.56KES 849
62.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$6.13KES 794
138.66%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$3.11KES 403
27.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$0.99KES 128
39.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$1.97KES 256
16.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$1.02KES 132
98.04%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$1.06KES 137
97.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$1.03KES 133
58.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$0.67KES 86.6
61.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$0.78KES 101
60.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$2.62KES 339
53.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$11.45KES 1,482
17.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$2.22KES 288
-27.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$2.70KES 349
11.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Nanyuki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$0.38KES 49.06
210.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$1.58KES 204
1.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$1.52KES 197
40.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$2.86KES 370
197.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$1.57KES 204
-14.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$18.6KKES 2.4M
52.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$19.0KKES 2.5M
87.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Nanyuki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$57.2KES 7,406
164.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$15.69KES 2,030
-16.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$34.05KES 4,407
-5.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Nanyuki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
$45.87KES 5,935
1.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$7.61KES 984
-15.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Nanyuki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$238KES 30.8K
250.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$11.0KKES 1.4M
-19.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Nanyuki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$27.52KES 3,561
224.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$25.10KES 3,247
120.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$62.1KES 8,031
120.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$60.9KES 7,879
79.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Nanyuki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$75.7KES 9,800
1157.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$64.4KES 8,335
937.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$234KES 30.2K
765.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$194KES 25.1K
491.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Nanyuki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
$116KES 15.0K
438.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
14.71
-29.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Nanyuki: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $75.7 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 438% 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 $45.00 in Medellin versus $35.00 in Nanyuki. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $200 – making Nanyuki 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 Nanyuki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nanyuki cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 165%, 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 $2,530 per month in Medellin and $956 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 in Nanyuki?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin and $35.00 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 in Nanyuki?
Groceries cost about 48% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Nanyuki?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nanyuki, where all-in costs run around $637, than in Medellin at $1,687. 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.