Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Thika Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Thika

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $472 in Thika, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $791 in Thika, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,110 in Thika, rent included.

Medellin costs about 113% more than Thika, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Thika are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Thika 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$5.46 KES 705

8.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$38.67 KES 4,998

-14.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$6.85 KES 885

8.47%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.41 KES 311

-31.54%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.75 KES 96.6

46.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.50 KES 65.0

56.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$1.65 KES 213

4.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$1.99 KES 257

59.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$0.87 KES 113

26.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.44 KES 56.9

186.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.37 KES 177

0.73%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.35 KES 174

61.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$11.55 KES 1,493

-61.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$6.85 KES 885

-15.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$1.88 KES 243

377.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$3.02 KES 391

-23.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.04 KES 134

1.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$2.11 KES 273

-27.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.00 KES 129

36.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.07 KES 138

5.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.11 KES 144

5.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.65 KES 83.9

38.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.76 KES 98.1

18.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$2.37 KES 306

-5.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$5.67 KES 733

113.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.69 KES 218

-29.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$1.98 KES 256

25.25%

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

$1.57 KES 203

-9.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$1.53 KES 197

27.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$2.97 KES 384

165.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.05 KES 136

-5.71%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$22.0K KES 2.8M

-19.94%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$19.9K KES 2.6M

34.88%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$33.97 KES 4,391

144.36%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$16.57 KES 2,142

-41.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$39.97 KES 5,166

-41.16%

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

$6.13 KES 793

-35.56%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$316 COP 994.2K

$203 KES 26.3K

55.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$8,150 KES 1.1M

-26.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$18.27 KES 2,362

228.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$24.31 KES 3,142

30.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$66.4 KES 8,585

53.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$55.6 KES 7,190

93.15%

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

$613 KES 79.3K

432.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

11.5

16.78%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Thika: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $39.00 in Thika. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $174 in Thika – so Thika 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 Thika: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 113%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $707 in Thika. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $39.00 in Thika. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Thika, where all-in costs run around $472, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Thika it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Thika – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Thika. 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.