Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamilton and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamilton and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,842 per month in Hamilton vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $9,251 per month in Hamilton vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $13.7K per month in Hamilton vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Hamilton costs about 370% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Hamilton sits 262% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$59.9 BMD 59.9

$6.16 COP 20.1K

871.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$177 BMD 177

$32.60 COP 106.1K

442.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.27 BMD 15.27

$7.34 COP 23.9K

108.04%

Cappuccino

$6.40 BMD 6.40

$1.72 COP 5,600

272.09%

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

$3.50 BMD 3.50

$1.05 COP 3,420

233.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 BMD 2.98

$0.77 COP 2,515

287.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.17 BMD 10.17

$1.69 COP 5,488

501.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.41 BMD 8.41

$3.17 COP 10.3K

165.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.34 BMD 4.34

$1.05 COP 3,423

313.33%

White Bread (500g)

$9.00 BMD 9.00

$1.30 COP 4,236

592.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.37 BMD 5.37

$1.40 COP 4,544

283.57%

Eggs

$7.57 BMD 7.57

$2.16 COP 7,047

250.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.68 BMD 11.68

$4.39 COP 14.3K

166.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.47 BMD 24.47

$5.88 COP 19.1K

316.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$31.87 BMD 31.87

$8.64 COP 28.1K

268.87%

Apples (1kg)

$10.38 BMD 10.38

$2.28 COP 7,426

355.26%

Banana (1kg)

$6.27 BMD 6.27

$1.11 COP 3,604

464.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$12.59 BMD 12.59

$1.53 COP 4,983

722.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.30 BMD 11.30

$1.35 COP 4,410

737.04%

Potato (1kg)

$8.40 BMD 8.40

$1.13 COP 3,674

643.36%

Onion (1kg)

$4.98 BMD 4.98

$1.13 COP 3,692

340.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.83 BMD 5.83

$0.85 COP 2,753

585.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.20 BMD 3.20

$0.91 COP 2,975

251.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.49 BMD 17.49

$2.34 COP 7,630

647.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.59 BMD 24.59

$12.37 COP 40.3K

98.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.26 BMD 5.26

$1.20 COP 3,909

338.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 BMD 4.63

$2.49 COP 8,104

85.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.80 BMD 4.80

$0.84 COP 2,728

471.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$70.1 BMD 70.1

$40.57 COP 132.1K

72.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.09 BMD 6.09

$1.42 COP 4,623

328.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.43 BMD 3.43

$1.92 COP 6,235

78.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$54.2 BMD 54.2

$7.66 COP 24.9K

607.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.37 BMD 2.37

$0.99 COP 3,223

139.39%

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

$34.4K BMD 34.4K

$18.0K COP 58.7M

90.71%

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

$39.6K BMD 39.6K

$26.6K COP 86.7M

48.76%

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

$234 BMD 234

$80.8 COP 263.1K

189.52%

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

$121 BMD 121

$9.95 COP 32.4K

1113.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$154 BMD 154

$24.18 COP 78.7K

538.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$185 BMD 185

$25.08 COP 81.7K

636.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.99 BMD 32.99

$19.15 COP 62.3K

72.27%

Cinema Ticket

$13.72 BMD 13.72

$3.98 COP 13.0K

244.72%

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

$1,339 BMD 1,339

$305 COP 993.5K

338.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.6K BMD 24.6K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

305.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.5 BMD 78.5

$58.1 COP 189.2K

34.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.1 BMD 61.1

$32.20 COP 104.8K

89.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$135 BMD 135

$101 COP 327.9K

34.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 BMD 130

$108 COP 350.8K

20.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,377 BMD 3,377

$477 COP 1.6M

608.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 BMD 2,260

$376 COP 1.2M

500.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,611 BMD 8,611

$845 COP 2.7M

919.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$7,542 BMD 7,542

$730 COP 2.4M

932.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.6K BMD 14.6K

$3,215 COP 10.5M

354.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,325 BMD 9,325

$1,372 COP 4.5M

579.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,684 BMD 6,684

$617 COP 2.0M

983.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.22

13.43

-46.24%

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

Last update for Hamilton: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,377 in Hamilton 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 984% higher in Hamilton, 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 $177 in Hamilton versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $816 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

Hamilton vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,842 in Hamilton, $1,031 in Medellin – roughly 370% apart. Hamilton costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,263 per month in Hamilton 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 Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $177 in Hamilton and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,842 in Hamilton and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Hamilton at $4,842. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hamilton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Hamilton has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,031 in Medellin to $4,842 in Hamilton. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hamilton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.