Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and NyeriCost 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 – Medellin23% lower, Nyeri62% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$4.61KES 596
33.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$38.37KES 4,959
-15.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$6.62KES 855
10.88%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$2.40KES 311
-28.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$0.76KES 98.5
38.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$0.38KES 48.73
102.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$2.27KES 293
-25.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$2.85KES 368
11.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$0.48KES 62.3
118.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$0.48KES 61.5
170.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$0.93KES 120
50.54%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$1.61KES 208
34.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$11.72KES 1,515
-62.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$6.28KES 811
-6.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$4.75KES 614
81.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$0.76KES 98.2
200.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$0.56KES 72.5
98.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$0.67KES 85.9
128.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$0.30KES 38.36
350.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$0.22KES 28.24
413.64%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$0.44KES 57.0
156.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$0.69KES 89.0
23.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.55KES 71.5
65.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$1.53KES 198
52.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$11.45KES 1,480
8.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$2.19KES 283
-45.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$2.82KES 364
-11.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$0.80KES 103
5.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$15.30KES 1,977
165.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$1.52KES 196
-6.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$1.19KES 154
61.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$1.18KES 152
549.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$1.43KES 185
-30.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$21.5KKES 2.8M
-16.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$20.1KKES 2.6M
32.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$15.72KES 2,032
414.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$11.54KES 1,491
-13.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$38.59KES 4,987
-37.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$34.55KES 4,464
-27.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$47.00KES 6,073
-59.26%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$6.22KES 803
-36.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$201KES 26.0K
51.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$7,926KES 1.0M
-23.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$11.46KES 1,480
407.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$13.82KES 1,785
133.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$34.14KES 4,411
195.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$19.50KES 2,519
452.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$91.9KES 11.9K
418.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$69.5KES 8,977
441.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$190KES 24.5K
345.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$155KES 20.0K
371.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Nyeri
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$235KES 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.