Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Siaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Siaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $130 in Siaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $220 in Siaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $309 in Siaya, rent included.

Medellin costs about 681% more than Siaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Siaya are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Siaya 90% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Siaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95 COPΒ 20.8K
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33 COPΒ 116.3K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.23 COPΒ 25.2K
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.63 COPΒ 5,687
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,821
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COPΒ 2,548
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 COPΒ 6,065
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 COPΒ 11.3K
-
-
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Siaya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COPΒ 3,662
$0.76 KESΒ 98.4
38.16%
White Bread (500g)
$1.29 COPΒ 4,515
$0.45 KESΒ 58.1
186.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 COPΒ 4,617
$1.26 KESΒ 163
4.76%
Eggs
$2.27 COPΒ 7,927
$1.69 KESΒ 220
34.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.35 COPΒ 15.2K
$9.42 KESΒ 1,221
-53.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COPΒ 20.5K
$5.49 KESΒ 712
7.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.61 COPΒ 30.0K
$3.90 KESΒ 506
120.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.25 COPΒ 7,844
$1.83 KESΒ 237
22.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COPΒ 3,733
$1.04 KESΒ 135
2.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COPΒ 5,322
$1.58 KESΒ 205
-3.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COPΒ 4,964
$0.94 KESΒ 122
51.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 COPΒ 4,084
$0.80 KESΒ 103
46.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COPΒ 4,077
$0.84 KESΒ 108
39.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,096
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COPΒ 3,146
$0.51 KESΒ 66.4
76.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 COPΒ 7,837
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$11.04 COPΒ 38.5K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 COPΒ 3,977
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 COPΒ 8,301
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Siaya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COPΒ 2,916
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.95 COPΒ 146.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COPΒ 4,912
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 COPΒ 6,634
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.75 COPΒ 27.0K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 COPΒ 3,509
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COPΒ 61.4M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 92.5M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Siaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.7 COPΒ 292.1K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45 COPΒ 33.0K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11 COPΒ 84.1K
-
-
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Siaya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.31 COPΒ 88.3K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COPΒ 66.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COPΒ 14.3K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Siaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$312 COPΒ 1.1M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,993 COPΒ 20.9M
-
-
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Siaya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0 COPΒ 202.6K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56 COPΒ 113.6K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.6 COPΒ 347.7K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 COPΒ 378.8K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Siaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 COPΒ 1.7M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$837 COPΒ 2.9M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$723 COPΒ 2.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,840 COPΒ 9.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,223 COPΒ 4.3M
-
-
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Siaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$541 COPΒ 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
0
-

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Siaya: June 9, 2026

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 Siaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Siaya cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 681%, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $195 in Siaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Siaya?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $130 in Siaya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and Siaya?
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 $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Siaya?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Siaya, where all-in costs run around $130, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Siaya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Siaya more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Siaya – 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 Siaya. 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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