😐A single person spends $2,402 per month in Den Helder vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,597 per month in Den Helder vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,793 per month in Den Helder vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Den Helder costs about 133% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Den Helder sits 80% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Den Helder
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.49€17.95
$6.16COP 20.1K
232.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.2€77.3
$32.60COP 106.1K
170.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.71€12.00
$7.34COP 23.9K
86.78%
Cappuccino
$4.54€3.98
$1.72COP 5,599
163.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14€3.63
$1.05COP 3,420
294.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25€2.84
$0.77COP 2,515
322.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.04€6.17
$1.69COP 5,487
316.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.84€5.11
$3.17COP 10.3K
84.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Den Helder
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.39€1.22
$1.05COP 3,423
32.38%
White Bread(500g)
$2.42€2.12
$1.30COP 4,236
86.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.00€2.63
$1.40COP 4,544
114.29%
Eggs
$5.35€4.68
$2.16COP 7,046
147.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.40€12.61
$4.39COP 14.3K
228.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.02€14.03
$5.88COP 19.1K
172.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.29€15.14
$8.64COP 28.1K
100.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34€2.05
$2.28COP 7,425
2.63%
Banana(1kg)
$2.49€2.18
$1.11COP 3,603
124.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92€1.68
$1.53COP 4,982
25.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.76€3.29
$1.35COP 4,410
178.52%
Potato(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$1.13COP 3,674
77.88%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19€1.92
$1.13COP 3,692
93.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30€1.14
$0.85COP 2,753
52.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15€1.01
$0.91COP 2,975
26.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.37€12.58
$2.34COP 7,629
514.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.24€6.34
$12.37COP 40.3K
-41.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.21
$1.20COP 3,909
15.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72€2.38
$2.49COP 8,104
9.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Den Helder
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.68€3.22
$0.84COP 2,727
338.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$91.4€80.0
$40.57COP 132.1K
125.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.71€3.25
$1.42COP 4,623
161.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.50€2.19
$1.92COP 6,235
30.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.50€24.08
$7.66COP 24.9K
259.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.27€1.98
$0.99COP 3,223
129.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.8K€34.9K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
121.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.3K€35.3K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
51.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Den Helder
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$98.4€86.2
$80.8COP 263.1K
21.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.63€23.32
$9.95COP 32.4K
167.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.04€41.20
$24.18COP 78.7K
94.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Den Helder
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.72€34.79
$25.08COP 81.6K
58.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.89€20.05
$19.15COP 62.3K
19.53%
Cinema Ticket
$16.35€14.32
$3.98COP 13.0K
310.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Den Helder
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,691€2,357
$305COP 993.4K
781.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.2K€9,790
$6,059COP 19.7M
84.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Den Helder
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$117€103
$58.1COP 189.2K
102.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.1€54.4
$32.20COP 104.8K
92.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€94.2
$101COP 327.9K
6.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130€114
$108COP 350.8K
20.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Den Helder
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,430€1,253
$477COP 1.6M
200.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,174€1,028
$376COP 1.2M
212.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,254€1,974
$845COP 2.7M
166.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,759€1,541
$730COP 2.4M
140.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,215COP 10.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,372COP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Den Helder
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,255€1,975
$617COP 2.0M
265.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.39
13.43
-67.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Den Helder: July 11, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,430 in Den Helder versus $477 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 266% higher in Den Helder, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Den Helder versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $356 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
Den Helder vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Den Helder?
Yes – Den Helder is pricier by about 133%, 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 $3,603 per month in Den Helder and $1,546 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 Den Helder or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Den Helder and $33.00 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 Den Helder and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,402 in Den Helder and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Den Helder or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Den Helder at $2,402. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Den Helder it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Den Helder 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, Den Helder 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, Den Helder makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Den Helder vs other spots: cost of living compared