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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Thika is about 53% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.46 KES 705

$5.91 COP 18.9K

-7.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.67 KES 4,998

$32.96 COP 105.2K

17.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.85 KES 885

$7.43 COP 23.7K

-7.81%

Cappuccino

$2.41 KES 311

$1.65 COP 5,276

46.06%

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

$0.75 KES 96.6

$1.10 COP 3,514

-31.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 KES 65.0

$0.78 COP 2,491

-35.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.65 KES 213

$1.72 COP 5,484

-4.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 KES 257

$3.18 COP 10.1K

-37.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 KES 113

$1.10 COP 3,521

-20.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 KES 56.9

$1.26 COP 4,015

-65.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 KES 177

$1.38 COP 4,407

-0.72%

Eggs

$1.35 KES 174

$2.18 COP 6,950

-38.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.55 KES 1,493

$4.49 COP 14.3K

157.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.85 KES 885

$5.79 COP 18.5K

18.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$1.88 KES 243

$8.97 COP 28.6K

-79.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 KES 391

$2.32 COP 7,405

30.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 KES 134

$1.06 COP 3,397

-1.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.11 KES 273

$1.52 COP 4,838

38.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 KES 129

$1.36 COP 4,327

-26.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 KES 138

$1.13 COP 3,599

-5.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 KES 144

$1.17 COP 3,738

-5.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 KES 83.9

$0.90 COP 2,876

-27.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 KES 98.1

$0.90 COP 2,861

-15.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.37 KES 306

$2.23 COP 7,128

6.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.67 KES 733

$12.12 COP 38.7K

-53.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 KES 218

$1.19 COP 3,793

42.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 KES 256

$2.48 COP 7,920

-20.16%

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)

$1.57 KES 203

$1.42 COP 4,518

10.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 KES 197

$1.95 COP 6,223

-21.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 KES 384

$7.89 COP 25.2K

-62.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 KES 136

$0.99 COP 3,160

6.06%

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

$22.0K KES 2.8M

$17.6K COP 56.2M

24.91%

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

$19.9K KES 2.6M

$26.8K COP 85.5M

-25.86%

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

$33.97 KES 4,391

$83.0 COP 264.9K

-59.08%

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

$16.57 KES 2,142

$9.70 COP 30.9K

70.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.97 KES 5,166

$23.52 COP 75.0K

69.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

Cinema Ticket

$6.13 KES 793

$3.95 COP 12.6K

55.19%

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

$203 KES 26.3K

$316 COP 1.0M

-35.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,150 KES 1.1M

$5,975 COP 19.1M

36.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.27 KES 2,362

$60.0 COP 191.4K

-69.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.31 KES 3,142

$31.82 COP 101.5K

-23.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.4 KES 8,585

$102 COP 324.4K

-34.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.6 KES 7,190

$107 COP 342.8K

-48.23%

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)

$613 KES 79.3K

$3,265 COP 10.4M

-81.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.5

13.43

-14.37%

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

Last update for Thika: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Thika versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $174 in Thika vs $193 in Medellin – 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

Thika vs Medellin: 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 $707 per month in Thika and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Thika and $33.00 in Medellin. 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.