Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Nyeri Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Nyeri

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $517 in Nyeri, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $884 in Nyeri, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,252 in Nyeri, rent included.

Medellin costs about 96% more than Nyeri, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Nyeri are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Nyeri 61% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99 COPΒ 21.4K
$4.70 KESΒ 609
27.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86 COPΒ 117.2K
$38.92 KESΒ 5,038
-15.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 COPΒ 25.3K
$6.89 KESΒ 891
2.90%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COPΒ 6,105
$2.39 KESΒ 309
-28.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COPΒ 3,918
$0.69 KESΒ 89.8
59.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COPΒ 2,776
$0.40 KESΒ 51.9
95.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 COPΒ 5,987
$2.27 KESΒ 293
-25.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 COPΒ 10.9K
$2.95 KESΒ 382
4.07%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,899
$0.48 KESΒ 62.1
127.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COPΒ 4,500
$0.52 KESΒ 67.5
142.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,914
$0.87 KESΒ 113
58.62%
Eggs
$2.19 COPΒ 7,813
$1.67 KESΒ 216
31.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 COPΒ 15.7K
$11.53 KESΒ 1,492
-61.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 COPΒ 20.1K
$6.05 KESΒ 784
-6.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 COPΒ 31.7K
$4.78 KESΒ 619
85.98%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COPΒ 8,334
$0.80 KESΒ 104
192.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,771
$0.51 KESΒ 66.5
107.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 COPΒ 5,365
$0.67 KESΒ 86.1
123.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,915
$0.32 KESΒ 41.70
331.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COPΒ 4,104
$0.24 KESΒ 31.22
379.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COPΒ 4,148
$0.44 KESΒ 57.0
163.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,176
$0.69 KESΒ 89.5
28.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COPΒ 2,992
$0.53 KESΒ 68.6
58.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COPΒ 8,131
$1.56 KESΒ 203
46.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.64 COPΒ 37.9K
$11.42 KESΒ 1,478
-6.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COPΒ 4,276
$2.22 KESΒ 287
-45.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COPΒ 8,809
$2.80 KESΒ 363
-11.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COPΒ 3,051
$0.74 KESΒ 95.7
16.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.40 COPΒ 147.6K
$15.73 KESΒ 2,036
163.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COPΒ 5,255
$1.57 KESΒ 203
-6.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COPΒ 6,997
$1.14 KESΒ 148
71.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.74 COPΒ 27.6K
$1.13 KESΒ 146
584.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COPΒ 3,403
$1.42 KESΒ 184
-33.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COPΒ 64.6M
$22.1K KESΒ 2.9M
-17.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 94.4M
$20.2K KESΒ 2.6M
30.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 COPΒ 293.2K
$15.68 KESΒ 2,029
424.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50 COPΒ 33.9K
$11.56 KESΒ 1,497
-17.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23 COPΒ 86.4K
$39.92 KESΒ 5,168
-39.30%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.89 COPΒ 92.3K
$34.13 KESΒ 4,418
-24.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00 COPΒ 67.7K
$46.25 KESΒ 5,987
-58.92%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93 COPΒ 14.0K
$6.10 KESΒ 790
-35.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 COPΒ 1.1M
$202 KESΒ 26.2K
53.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,965 COPΒ 21.3M
$8,004 KESΒ 1.0M
-25.48%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COPΒ 209.1K
$11.80 KESΒ 1,528
397.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35 COPΒ 115.3K
$14.12 KESΒ 1,828
129.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COPΒ 365.7K
$34.48 KESΒ 4,464
197.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPΒ 386.5K
$19.72 KESΒ 2,553
449.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COPΒ 1.7M
$93.1 KESΒ 12.0K
411.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.4M
$70.7 KESΒ 9,153
435.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COPΒ 3.0M
$196 KESΒ 25.3K
328.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 COPΒ 2.6M
$154 KESΒ 19.9K
370.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,791 COPΒ 9.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 COPΒ 4.3M
-
-
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$512 COPΒ 1.8M
$235 KESΒ 30.4K
118.11%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Nyeri: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $93.1 in Nyeri. 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 118% 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 Nyeri. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Medellin vs $161 in Nyeri – so Nyeri 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 Nyeri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nyeri cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 96%, 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $775 in Nyeri. 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 Nyeri, 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 Nyeri?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $39.00 in Nyeri. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafΓ© pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Nyeri?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $517 in Nyeri. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Medellin or Nyeri?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Nyeri, where all-in costs run around $517, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Nyeri it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Nyeri more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nyeri – 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 Nyeri. 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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