😐A single person spends $2,319 per month in Nakusp vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,287 per month in Nakusp vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,255 per month in Nakusp vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Nakusp costs about 38% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Nakusp and Medellin sit above the global median – Nakusp by 70%, Medellin by 23%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nakusp
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.85CA$24.96
$8.02COP 25.4K
122.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.3CA$95.5
$47.87COP 152.0K
42.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.36CA$13.09
$9.89COP 31.4K
-5.36%
Cappuccino
$3.50CA$4.90
$3.13COP 9,937
11.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33CA$3.26
$1.91COP 6,058
21.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75CA$2.45
$1.51COP 4,794
15.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.45CA$7.62
$3.12COP 9,917
74.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.55CA$9.16
$5.75COP 18.3K
13.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nakusp
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.07CA$2.90
$1.44COP 4,587
43.75%
White Bread(500g)
$2.54CA$3.55
$2.49COP 7,894
2.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.43CA$4.79
$1.77COP 5,631
93.79%
Eggs
$3.47CA$4.85
$2.96COP 9,396
17.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08CA$14.10
$10.07COP 32.0K
0.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.25CA$15.73
$10.12COP 32.1K
11.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.60CA$20.43
$14.30COP 45.4K
2.10%
Apples(1kg)
$3.79CA$5.30
$4.14COP 13.1K
-8.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31CA$1.83
$1.61COP 5,106
-18.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.70CA$5.18
$2.25COP 7,129
64.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.81CA$5.33
$2.25COP 7,150
69.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.61CA$3.66
$2.04COP 6,486
27.94%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20CA$3.07
$1.54COP 4,873
42.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.56CA$3.57
$1.17COP 3,715
118.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66CA$2.32
$1.31COP 4,148
26.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.19CA$19.85
$3.90COP 12.4K
263.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.26CA$17.15
$14.01COP 44.5K
-12.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.96CA$4.15
$1.74COP 5,534
70.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29CA$4.60
$2.87COP 9,112
14.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Nakusp
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.50CA$3.50
$1.22COP 3,858
104.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.6CA$88.9
$80.5COP 255.5K
-21.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.31CA$4.63
$1.31COP 4,155
152.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.36CA$1.90
$2.19COP 6,944
-37.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.86CA$34.77
$8.71COP 27.7K
185.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31CA$1.83
$1.37COP 4,334
-4.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KCA$38.8K
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
-0.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.6KCA$24.7K
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
-50.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nakusp
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$139CA$194
$177COP 562.9K
-21.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.42CA$48.15
$13.88COP 44.1K
147.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.0CA$78.3
$29.72COP 94.4K
88.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nakusp
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.63CA$56.8
$44.88COP 142.5K
-9.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.48CA$25.84
$17.12COP 54.4K
7.94%
Cinema Ticket
$11.40CA$15.94
$6.65COP 21.1K
71.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nakusp
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$782CA$1,094
$813COP 2.6M
-3.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.3KCA$17.1K
$9,187COP 29.2M
33.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nakusp
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.9CA$74.0
$89.5COP 284.1K
-40.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.89CA$54.4
$59.0COP 187.2K
-34.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.3CA$126
$138COP 438.8K
-34.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105CA$147
$102COP 324.2K
3.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nakusp
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,173CA$1,641
$1,062COP 3.4M
10.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,123CA$1,570
$663COP 2.1M
69.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,829CA$2,559
$1,888COP 6.0M
-3.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,577CA$2,206
$1,027COP 3.3M
53.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,031CA$5,638
$4,183COP 13.3M
-3.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,988CA$5,578
$1,675COP 5.3M
138.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nakusp
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$678COP 2.2M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.66
10.94
-57.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nakusp: September 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,173 in Nakusp versus $1,062 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 $68.0 in Nakusp versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $353 vs $305 – 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
Nakusp vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Nakusp?
Yes – Nakusp is pricier by about 38%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $3,479 per month in Nakusp and $2,521 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 Medellin, 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 Nakusp or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $68.0 in Nakusp and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Nakusp and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,319 in Nakusp and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Nakusp or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in Nakusp at $2,319. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nakusp it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nakusp or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Nakusp or Medellin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nakusp makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.