😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,547 in Haines, AK versus $1,017 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,770 in Haines, AK versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,994 in Haines, AK versus $2,188 in Medellin.
😐Living in Haines, AK is roughly 151% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Haines, AK is 89% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Haines, AK
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.95$18.95
$5.95COP 20.8K
218.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.1$75.1
$33.33COP 116.3K
125.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.82$10.82
$7.23COP 25.2K
49.65%
Cappuccino
$5.15$5.15
$1.63COP 5,687
215.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59$2.59
$1.09COP 3,821
137.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94$1.94
$0.73COP 2,548
165.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.05$6.05
$1.74COP 6,065
247.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82$6.82
$3.23COP 11.3K
111.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Haines, AK
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04$1.04
$1.05COP 3,662
-0.95%
White Bread(500g)
$3.60$3.60
$1.29COP 4,515
179.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.27$4.27
$1.32COP 4,617
223.48%
Eggs
$4.27$4.27
$2.27COP 7,927
88.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.40$12.40
$4.35COP 15.2K
185.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.46$11.46
$5.88COP 20.5K
94.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.68$15.68
$8.61COP 30.0K
82.11%
Apples(1kg)
$4.83$4.83
$2.25COP 7,844
114.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62$1.62
$1.07COP 3,733
51.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.33$4.33
$1.52COP 5,322
184.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.61$4.61
$1.42COP 4,964
224.65%
Potato(1kg)
$2.86$2.86
$1.17COP 4,084
144.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.76$2.76
$1.17COP 4,077
135.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.11$2.11
$0.89COP 3,096
137.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.10$2.10
$0.90COP 3,146
133.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.50$9.50
$2.25COP 7,837
322.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.08$15.08
$11.04COP 38.5K
36.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83$1.83
$1.14COP 3,977
60.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38$3.38
$2.38COP 8,301
42.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Haines, AK
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.04$2.04
$0.84COP 2,916
142.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.95COP 146.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.58$3.58
$1.41COP 4,912
153.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.61$1.61
$1.90COP 6,634
-15.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.02$29.02
$7.75COP 27.0K
274.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91$0.91
$1.01COP 3,509
-9.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K$29.5K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
67.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K$25.4K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-4.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Haines, AK
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187$187
$83.7COP 292.1K
123.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.9$53.9
$9.45COP 33.0K
469.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.8$66.8
$24.11COP 84.1K
176.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Haines, AK
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.82$42.82
$25.31COP 88.3K
69.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14COP 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.23$13.23
$4.10COP 14.3K
222.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Haines, AK
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,275$1,275
$312COP 1.1M
308.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.8K$23.8K
$5,993COP 20.9M
297.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Haines, AK
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.8$50.8
$58.0COP 202.6K
-12.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.12$40.12
$32.56COP 113.6K
23.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.7$86.7
$99.6COP 347.7K
-12.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111$111
$109COP 378.8K
1.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Haines, AK
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,574$1,574
$482COP 1.7M
226.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,366$1,366
$379COP 1.3M
260.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,639$2,639
$837COP 2.9M
215.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,242$2,242
$723COP 2.5M
210.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,454$2,454
$2,840COP 9.9M
-13.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,321$2,321
$1,223COP 4.3M
89.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Haines, AK
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$541COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
13.43
-51.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Haines, AK: June 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,574 in Haines, AK and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $75.0 in Haines, AK vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $390 vs $190 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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
Haines, AK vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Haines, AK or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 151% lower than in Haines, AK. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Haines, AK vs Medellin?
You'd need roughly $3,820 in Haines, AK and $1,525 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Haines, AK vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,574 in Haines, AK versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Haines, AK and Medellin?
Childcare runs $1,275 in Haines, AK versus $312 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Haines, AK vs Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $75.0 in Haines, AK. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Haines, AK or Medellin?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $2,547 in Haines, AK, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Haines, AK. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Haines, AK or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,017 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Haines, AK compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Haines, AK and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 151% less than in Haines, AK. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Haines, AK vs other spots: cost of living compared