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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $593 per month in Naivasha vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $999 per month in Naivasha vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,405 per month in Naivasha vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Naivasha is about 43% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Naivasha and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Naivasha 56% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Naivasha
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.31 KES 685
$5.92 COP 21.4K
-10.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.46 KES 4,964
$32.75 COP 118.2K
17.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.00 KES 903
$7.20 COP 26.0K
-2.78%
Cappuccino
$2.44 KES 315
$1.70 COP 6,140
43.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 KES 90.7
$1.10 COP 3,966
-36.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 KES 64.7
$0.72 COP 2,605
-30.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.25 KES 291
$1.67 COP 6,022
34.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 KES 381
$3.10 COP 11.2K
-4.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Naivasha
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 KES 121
$1.06 COP 3,809
-11.32%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 KES 67.6
$1.25 COP 4,497
-58.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.59 KES 206
$1.39 COP 5,022
14.39%
Eggs
$1.68 KES 217
$2.26 COP 8,168
-25.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.59 KES 1,496
$4.33 COP 15.6K
167.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.79 KES 876
$5.84 COP 21.1K
16.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.68 KES 733
$8.83 COP 31.9K
-35.67%
Apples (1kg)
$3.17 KES 409
$2.24 COP 8,099
41.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.05 KES 135
$1.08 COP 3,882
-2.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 KES 271
$1.53 COP 5,522
37.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.06 KES 137
$1.37 COP 4,950
-22.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.07 KES 138
$1.13 COP 4,078
-5.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 KES 151
$1.12 COP 4,036
4.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 KES 88.2
$0.85 COP 3,057
-20.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 KES 105
$0.91 COP 3,281
-10.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.15 KES 406
$2.33 COP 8,414
35.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.51 KES 1,486
$11.13 COP 40.2K
3.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 KES 295
$1.19 COP 4,309
91.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 KES 365
$2.37 COP 8,553
19.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Naivasha
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.79 COP 2,838
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.13 COP 148.5K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.52 KES 197
$1.44 COP 5,184
5.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.50 KES 193
$1.91 COP 6,901
-21.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.86 KES 370
$8.02 COP 28.9K
-64.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 KES 202
$0.94 COP 3,385
67.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K KES 2.8M
$17.9K COP 64.7M
21.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K KES 2.6M
$26.8K COP 96.7M
-24.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Naivasha
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.07 KES 4,398
$84.0 COP 303.1K
-59.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.95 KES 2,188
$9.60 COP 34.7K
76.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.34 KES 5,077
$24.16 COP 87.2K
62.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Naivasha
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$25.88 COP 93.4K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04 COP 68.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.04 KES 780
$3.92 COP 14.1K
54.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Naivasha
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$200 KES 25.8K
$306 COP 1.1M
-34.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,196 KES 1.1M
$5,919 COP 21.4M
38.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Naivasha
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.94 KES 2,315
$57.9 COP 209.1K
-69.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.99 KES 3,096
$31.82 COP 114.9K
-24.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.8 KES 8,360
$99.9 COP 360.6K
-35.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.5 KES 7,416
$107 COP 386.8K
-46.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Naivasha
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$114 KES 14.7K
$487 COP 1.8M
-76.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$77.6 KES 10.0K
$368 COP 1.3M
-78.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$228 KES 29.5K
$826 COP 3.0M
-72.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$184 KES 23.7K
$716 COP 2.6M
-74.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$757 KES 97.8K
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-74.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,407 COP 5.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Naivasha
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$546 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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $114 in Naivasha versus $487 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 $38.00 in Naivasha versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $207 vs $190 – 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 74%, 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 $890 per month in Naivasha and $1,550 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 Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 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 Medellin?
Interestingly, groceries are about 9% 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 Naivasha or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Naivasha, where all-in costs run around $593, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.

Naivasha vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities