$40K in Topeka = $17,500 in Medellín

Your $40K salary in Topeka (COL 80) has the same purchasing power as $17,500 in Medellín (COL 35). Medellín is cheaper — your money goes 56% further there.

$40K in Topeka, KS
$2,538/mo take-home
Rent: $940/mo (37% of take-home)
Tight
$17,500/yr in Medellín, CO
$1,194/mo take-home
Rent: $500/mo (42% of take-home)
Tight

Budget breakdown — $40K in both cities

What $40K actually buys you in each city after taxes and core expenses.

Expense
Topeka
$40K
Medellín
$40K (same salary)
Monthly take-home$2,538$2,728
1BR rent$940$500
Groceries$350$380
Transport$40$150
Utilities$150$55
Internet$55$30
Left after essentials$1,003/month$1,613/month
To match your Topeka purchasing power in Medellín, you'd need to earn $17,500/year (56% less than $40K). At that salary, you'd have $79/mo left after essentials — vs $1,003/mo in Topeka.

Frequently asked questions

What is $40K in Topeka equivalent to in Medellín?

$40K in Topeka (COL index 80) has the same purchasing power as $17,500 in Medellín (COL index 35). That's 56% less than your current salary.

If I move from Topeka to Medellín keeping my $40K salary, will I be better off?

Yes. If you keep earning $40K after moving to Medellín, you'd have $610 more per month after core expenses — because Medellín is cheaper than Topeka.

How is the salary equivalent calculated?

The equivalent salary is calculated by multiplying your current salary by the ratio of the two cities' overall cost of living indices: $40K × (35 ÷ 80) = $17,500. This adjusts for differences in housing, food, transport, and general cost of living.

Other salary amounts — Topeka to Medellín

$50K → $21,875$60K → $26,250$75K → $32,813$80K → $35,000$100K → $43,750$120K → $52,500$150K → $65,625
$40K in Medellín → TopekaMoving from Topeka to MedellínTopeka vs Medellín — full comparisonCan I afford Topeka vs Medellín on $40K?

Equivalency uses overall COL index ratio. Take-home uses simplified federal/state brackets. Zillow · BLS · Numbeo · Q1 2026 · For general guidance only