Cost of Living Comparison Between Naivasha and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Naivasha and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $583 per month in Naivasha vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $973 per month in Naivasha vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,364 per month in Naivasha vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Naivasha is about 42% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Naivasha and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Naivasha 56% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Naivasha
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.37 KES 695
$5.91 COP 18.9K
-9.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.34 KES 5,084
$32.96 COP 105.2K
19.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.95 KES 898
$7.43 COP 23.7K
-6.46%
Cappuccino
$2.44 KES 315
$1.65 COP 5,276
47.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 KES 93.0
$1.10 COP 3,514
-34.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 KES 68.5
$0.78 COP 2,491
-32.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.33 KES 302
$1.72 COP 5,484
35.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 KES 380
$3.18 COP 10.1K
-7.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Naivasha
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 KES 118
$1.10 COP 3,521
-16.36%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 KES 72.6
$1.26 COP 4,015
-55.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 KES 213
$1.38 COP 4,407
19.57%
Eggs
$1.62 KES 210
$2.18 COP 6,950
-25.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.55 KES 1,493
$4.49 COP 14.3K
157.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.77 KES 875
$5.79 COP 18.5K
16.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.45 KES 705
$8.97 COP 28.6K
-39.24%
Apples (1kg)
$3.04 KES 393
$2.32 COP 7,405
31.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 KES 135
$1.06 COP 3,397
-1.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 KES 280
$1.52 COP 4,838
42.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.04 KES 135
$1.36 COP 4,327
-23.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 KES 134
$1.13 COP 3,599
-7.96%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 KES 145
$1.17 COP 3,738
-4.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 KES 83.5
$0.90 COP 2,876
-27.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 KES 103
$0.90 COP 2,861
-11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.11 KES 402
$2.23 COP 7,128
39.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.70 KES 1,512
$12.12 COP 38.7K
-3.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 KES 292
$1.19 COP 3,793
89.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 KES 349
$2.48 COP 7,920
8.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Naivasha
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.85 COP 2,723
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.62 COP 132.8K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.59 KES 206
$1.42 COP 4,518
11.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 KES 204
$1.95 COP 6,223
-18.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.97 KES 383
$7.89 COP 25.2K
-62.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 KES 198
$0.99 COP 3,160
54.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K KES 2.8M
$17.6K COP 56.2M
21.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7K KES 2.6M
$26.8K COP 85.5M
-26.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Naivasha
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.40 KES 4,446
$83.0 COP 264.9K
-58.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.70 KES 2,158
$9.70 COP 30.9K
72.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.06 KES 5,178
$23.52 COP 75.0K
70.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Naivasha
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$25.26 COP 80.6K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.10 COP 60.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.24 KES 807
$3.95 COP 12.6K
57.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Naivasha
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$205 KES 26.5K
$316 COP 1.0M
-35.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,904 KES 1.0M
$5,975 COP 19.1M
32.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Naivasha
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.03 KES 2,331
$60.0 COP 191.4K
-69.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.62 KES 3,052
$31.82 COP 101.5K
-25.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.8 KES 8,370
$102 COP 324.4K
-36.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.9 KES 7,355
$107 COP 342.8K
-47.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Naivasha
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$116 KES 15.0K
$475 COP 1.5M
-75.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$77.8 KES 10.1K
$374 COP 1.2M
-79.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$230 KES 29.8K
$849 COP 2.7M
-72.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$189 KES 24.4K
$719 COP 2.3M
-73.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$785 KES 101.4K
$3,265 COP 10.4M
-75.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,441 COP 4.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Naivasha
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$624 COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.84
13.43
10.50%

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

Last update for Naivasha: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $116 in Naivasha versus $475 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Naivasha versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $193 – making Medellin 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
Naivasha vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Naivasha?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 72%, 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 $875 per month in Naivasha and $1,504 in Medellin. 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 Naivasha, 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 Naivasha or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Naivasha and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Naivasha and in Medellin?
Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Naivasha or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Naivasha, where all-in costs run around $583, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Naivasha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Naivasha or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Naivasha – 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 Naivasha. 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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