Cost of Living Comparison Between Half Way Tree and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Half Way Tree and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $799 per month in Half Way Tree vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,314 per month in Half Way Tree vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,828 per month in Half Way Tree vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Half Way Tree is about 22% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Half Way Tree and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Half Way Tree 40% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.59 JMD 723

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-25.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.6 JMD 9,707

$32.60 COP 106.1K

88.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.62 JMD 1,358

$7.34 COP 23.9K

17.44%

Cappuccino

$4.28 JMD 674

$1.72 COP 5,600

148.84%

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

$0.96 JMD 151

$1.05 COP 3,420

-8.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 JMD 104

$0.77 COP 2,515

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.52 JMD 397

$1.69 COP 5,488

49.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 JMD 482

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-3.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.85 JMD 607

$1.05 COP 3,423

266.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 JMD 264

$1.30 COP 4,236

28.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 JMD 224

$1.40 COP 4,544

1.43%

Eggs

$3.48 JMD 548

$2.16 COP 7,047

61.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.01 JMD 1,734

$4.39 COP 14.3K

150.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.17 JMD 972

$5.88 COP 19.1K

4.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.51 JMD 1,184

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-13.08%

Apples (1kg)

$4.21 JMD 663

$2.28 COP 7,426

84.65%

Banana (1kg)

$3.01 JMD 474

$1.11 COP 3,604

171.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.26 JMD 672

$1.53 COP 4,983

178.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.71 JMD 428

$1.35 COP 4,410

100.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 JMD 328

$1.13 COP 3,674

84.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 JMD 313

$1.13 COP 3,692

76.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 JMD 193

$0.85 COP 2,753

44.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 JMD 144

$0.91 COP 2,975

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 JMD 1,379

$2.34 COP 7,630

273.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.27 JMD 1,776

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-8.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 JMD 438

$1.20 COP 3,909

131.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 JMD 483

$2.49 COP 8,104

23.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 JMD 95.7

$0.84 COP 2,728

-27.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.98 JMD 6,931

$40.57 COP 132.1K

8.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 JMD 152

$1.42 COP 4,623

-32.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.10 JMD 489

$1.92 COP 6,235

61.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.42 JMD 1,011

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-16.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 JMD 200

$0.99 COP 3,223

28.28%

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

$42.4K JMD 6.7M

$18.0K COP 58.7M

135.26%

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

$33.7K JMD 5.3M

$26.6K COP 86.7M

26.62%

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

$165 JMD 26.0K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

104.44%

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

$22.03 JMD 3,472

$9.95 COP 32.4K

121.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.47 JMD 6,850

$24.18 COP 78.7K

79.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$13.02 JMD 2,052

$3.98 COP 13.0K

227.14%

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

$61.7 JMD 9,725

$305 COP 993.5K

-79.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,448 JMD 385.7K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-59.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.82 JMD 2,493

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-72.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.94 JMD 4,089

$32.20 COP 104.8K

-19.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$31.22 JMD 4,920

$101 COP 327.9K

-69.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.60 JMD 4,980

$108 COP 350.8K

-70.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,108 JMD 174.5K

$477 COP 1.6M

132.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

13.43

-31.87%

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

Last update for Half Way Tree: July 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,108 in Half Way Tree 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Half Way Tree versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 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

Half Way Tree vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 29% more than Half Way Tree, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,199 per month in Half Way Tree and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Half Way Tree, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 8% less in Half Way Tree. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $61.7 per month in Half Way Tree and $305 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Half Way Tree, where all-in costs run around $799, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Half Way Tree it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Half Way Tree costs $799 versus $1,031 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Half Way Tree. 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.