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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $506 in Nyeri, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $894 in Nyeri, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,282 in Nyeri, rent included.

Medellin costs about 104% more than Nyeri, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Nyeri are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Nyeri 62% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$4.61 KES 596
33.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$38.37 KES 4,959
-15.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$6.62 KES 855
10.88%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$2.40 KES 311
-28.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$0.76 KES 98.5
38.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$0.38 KES 48.73
102.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$2.27 KES 293
-25.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$2.85 KES 368
11.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$0.48 KES 62.3
118.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$0.48 KES 61.5
170.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$0.93 KES 120
50.54%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$1.61 KES 208
34.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$11.72 KES 1,515
-62.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$6.28 KES 811
-6.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$4.75 KES 614
81.89%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$0.76 KES 98.2
200.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$0.56 KES 72.5
98.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$0.67 KES 85.9
128.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$0.30 KES 38.36
350.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$0.22 KES 28.24
413.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$0.44 KES 57.0
156.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$0.69 KES 89.0
23.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$0.55 KES 71.5
65.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$1.53 KES 198
52.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$11.45 KES 1,480
8.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$2.19 KES 283
-45.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$2.82 KES 364
-11.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$0.80 KES 103
5.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$15.30 KES 1,977
165.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$1.52 KES 196
-6.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$1.19 KES 154
61.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$1.18 KES 152
549.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$1.43 KES 185
-30.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$21.5K KES 2.8M
-16.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$20.1K KES 2.6M
32.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$15.72 KES 2,032
414.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$11.54 KES 1,491
-13.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$38.59 KES 4,987
-37.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$34.55 KES 4,464
-27.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$47.00 KES 6,073
-59.26%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$6.22 KES 803
-36.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$201 KES 26.0K
51.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$7,926 KES 1.0M
-23.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$11.46 KES 1,480
407.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$13.82 KES 1,785
133.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$34.14 KES 4,411
195.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$19.50 KES 2,519
452.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$91.9 KES 11.9K
418.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$69.5 KES 8,977
441.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$190 KES 24.5K
345.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$155 KES 20.0K
371.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$235 KES 30.4K
162.26%
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 12, 2026

Last update for Nyeri: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $91.9 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 162% 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 Nyeri. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $162 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 104%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $759 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 in Nyeri?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $38.00 in Nyeri. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Nyeri?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $506 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 living in Medellin or in Nyeri?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Nyeri, where all-in costs run around $506, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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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