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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $128 in Siaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $221 in Siaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $315 in Siaya, rent included.

Medellin costs about 686% more than Siaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Siaya are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Siaya 90% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Siaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91 COP 18.6K
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 COP 103.8K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 23.4K
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,207
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,468
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,458
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,412
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Siaya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COP 3,474
$0.74 KES 95.6
48.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 3,962
$0.44 KES 57.1
186.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,349
$1.20 KES 156
15.00%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 6,858
$1.71 KES 221
27.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 COP 14.1K
$9.54 KES 1,233
-52.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.79 COP 18.2K
$5.55 KES 717
4.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 28.2K
$4.07 KES 526
120.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 COP 7,308
$1.81 KES 234
28.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,352
$1.07 KES 138
-0.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,774
$1.54 KES 199
-1.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,270
$0.88 KES 113
54.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,552
$0.77 KES 99.7
46.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,689
$0.85 KES 110
37.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,838
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,823
$0.55 KES 70.8
63.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 COP 7,034
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 COP 38.2K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 3,743
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 7,815
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Siaya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 COP 2,687
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.62 COP 131.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,459
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 6,141
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 24.8K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,118
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 55.4M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 84.4M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Siaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 261.4K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 COP 30.5K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 COP 74.1K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Siaya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.26 COP 79.5K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 COP 60.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 12.4K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Siaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COP 994.2K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,975 COP 18.8M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Siaya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 188.9K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 100.2K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 320.1K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 338.3K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Siaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.5M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 COP 1.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 COP 2.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 COP 2.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,265 COP 10.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Siaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$624 COP 2.0M
-
-
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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Siaya: July 25, 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 686%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $191 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 and in Siaya?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $128 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 in Siaya?
Groceries cost about 50% 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 living in Medellin or in Siaya?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Siaya, where all-in costs run around $128, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities