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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $486 in Nyeri, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $846 in Nyeri, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $1,206 in Nyeri, rent included.

Medellin costs about 238% more than Nyeri, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Nyeri is 65% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04 COP 24.8K
$3.83 KES 495
109.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29 COP 148.6K
$34.24 KES 4,427
41.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 COP 29.0K
$6.27 KES 810
50.24%
Cappuccino
$2.94 COP 9,040
$1.90 KES 245
54.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 COP 5,735
$0.33 KES 42.07
463.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 COP 4,479
$0.52 KES 66.9
180.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 COP 9,882
$2.34 KES 302
37.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 COP 17.6K
$2.67 KES 346
113.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,428
$0.51 KES 66.4
182.35%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 COP 7,389
$0.48 KES 62.2
400.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,228
$0.92 KES 120
84.78%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 8,896
$1.66 KES 214
74.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.06 COP 30.9K
$10.42 KES 1,347
-3.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.97 COP 30.7K
$6.32 KES 817
57.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.20 COP 43.7K
$4.74 KES 612
199.58%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 COP 12.3K
$0.74 KES 96.2
437.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 COP 4,878
$0.53 KES 68.3
198.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 COP 6,624
$0.68 KES 88.1
216.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,078
$0.32 KES 41.79
618.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 COP 6,169
$0.24 KES 31.08
733.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,646
$0.44 KES 57.5
243.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 COP 3,701
$0.68 KES 88.3
76.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 COP 3,946
$0.56 KES 72.8
128.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84 COP 11.8K
$1.56 KES 202
146.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.1K
$11.40 KES 1,474
22.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 COP 5,256
$2.22 KES 287
-22.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 COP 8,440
$2.84 KES 367
-3.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 COP 3,834
$0.74 KES 95.4
68.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 COP 239.7K
$15.59 KES 2,016
399.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,016
$1.56 KES 202
-16.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.17 COP 6,680
$1.19 KES 154
82.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.29 COP 25.5K
$1.14 KES 147
627.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,172
$1.41 KES 182
-3.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K COP 84.5M
$20.3K KES 2.6M
35.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K COP 112.4M
$19.8K KES 2.6M
84.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 COP 519.2K
$15.59 KES 2,016
982.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 COP 41.8K
$11.61 KES 1,501
16.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32 COP 87.2K
$35.50 KES 4,590
-20.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.71 COP 140.7K
$34.81 KES 4,501
31.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22 COP 53.0K
$45.63 KES 5,900
-62.26%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.5K
$7.68 KES 993
-13.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$803 COP 2.5M
$243 KES 31.4K
230.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,190 COP 28.3M
$11.4K KES 1.5M
-19.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4 COP 268.8K
$11.40 KES 1,475
666.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4 COP 182.7K
$13.75 KES 1,778
331.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 427.5K
$34.54 KES 4,466
302.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 314.0K
$19.14 KES 2,475
433.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,071 COP 3.3M
$92.8 KES 12.0K
1054.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 COP 2.0M
$70.0 KES 9,055
832.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,925 COP 5.9M
$192 KES 24.8K
902.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 COP 3.2M
$157 KES 20.4K
565.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,123 COP 12.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$655 COP 2.0M
$230 KES 29.8K
184.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
14.71
-25.63%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Nyeri: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $92.8 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 184% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $34.00 in Nyeri. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $159 – making Nyeri 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 Nyeri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nyeri cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 238%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,462 per month in Medellin and $729 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 $48.00 in Medellin and $34.00 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 $1,641 in Medellin and $486 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 $486, than in Medellin at $1,641. 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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