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 $812 per month in Half Way Tree vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,313 per month in Half Way Tree vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Half Way Tree vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Half Way Tree is about 20% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Half Way Tree and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Half Way Tree 39% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.71 JMD 741

$5.99 COP 21.4K

-21.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.7 JMD 10.0K

$32.86 COP 117.2K

93.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.99 JMD 1,414

$7.09 COP 25.3K

26.80%

Cappuccino

$4.23 JMD 665

$1.71 COP 6,105

147.37%

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

$0.98 JMD 155

$1.10 COP 3,918

-10.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 JMD 101

$0.78 COP 2,776

-17.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 JMD 395

$1.68 COP 5,987

49.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 JMD 478

$3.07 COP 10.9K

-0.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.69 JMD 580

$1.09 COP 3,899

238.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.66 JMD 261

$1.26 COP 4,500

31.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 JMD 215

$1.38 COP 4,914

-0.72%

Eggs

$3.41 JMD 536

$2.19 COP 7,813

55.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.93 JMD 1,719

$4.40 COP 15.7K

148.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.17 JMD 970

$5.63 COP 20.1K

9.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.42 JMD 1,166

$8.89 COP 31.7K

-16.54%

Apples (1kg)

$4.19 JMD 659

$2.34 COP 8,334

79.06%

Banana (1kg)

$3.05 JMD 480

$1.06 COP 3,771

187.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 JMD 636

$1.50 COP 5,365

169.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.81 JMD 442

$1.38 COP 4,915

103.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 JMD 321

$1.15 COP 4,104

77.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 JMD 301

$1.16 COP 4,148

64.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 JMD 199

$0.89 COP 3,176

42.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 JMD 154

$0.84 COP 2,992

16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.70 JMD 1,368

$2.28 COP 8,131

281.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.24 JMD 1,767

$10.64 COP 37.9K

5.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 JMD 437

$1.20 COP 4,276

131.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 JMD 478

$2.47 COP 8,809

23.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 JMD 94.6

$0.86 COP 3,051

-30.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.06 JMD 6,929

$41.40 COP 147.6K

6.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 JMD 145

$1.47 COP 5,255

-36.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.13 JMD 492

$1.96 COP 6,997

59.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.09 JMD 957

$7.74 COP 27.6K

-21.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 JMD 198

$0.95 COP 3,403

32.63%

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

$42.1K JMD 6.6M

$18.1K COP 64.6M

131.97%

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

$32.9K JMD 5.2M

$26.5K COP 94.4M

24.32%

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

$161 JMD 25.3K

$82.3 COP 293.2K

95.68%

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

$22.08 JMD 3,472

$9.50 COP 33.9K

132.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.16 JMD 6,945

$24.23 COP 86.4K

82.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

Cinema Ticket

$13.30 JMD 2,091

$3.93 COP 14.0K

238.42%

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

$62.8 JMD 9,873

$309 COP 1.1M

-79.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,509 JMD 394.5K

$5,965 COP 21.3M

-57.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.58 JMD 2,450

$58.7 COP 209.1K

-73.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.66 JMD 4,035

$32.35 COP 115.3K

-20.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$31.15 JMD 4,899

$103 COP 365.7K

-69.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.21 JMD 4,908

$108 COP 386.5K

-71.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,122 JMD 176.5K

$476 COP 1.7M

135.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,122 in Half Way Tree versus $476 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 $64.0 in Half Way Tree versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $188 – 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 25% 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 $1,217 per month in Half Way Tree and $1,519 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 6% less in Half Way Tree. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $62.8 per month in Half Way Tree and $309 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 $812, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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 $812 versus $1,013 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.