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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,857 per month in Hamilton vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $9,118 per month in Hamilton vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $13.4K per month in Hamilton vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Hamilton costs about 196% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hamilton and Medellin sit above the global median – Hamilton by 252%, Medellin by 19%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$50.1 BMD 50.1

$8.04 COP 25.0K

523.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$151 BMD 151

$48.29 COP 149.9K

212.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.91 BMD 16.91

$9.42 COP 29.3K

79.51%

Cappuccino

$6.22 BMD 6.22

$2.94 COP 9,120

111.56%

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

$3.11 BMD 3.11

$1.86 COP 5,786

67.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 BMD 3.08

$1.46 COP 4,519

110.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.47 BMD 7.47

$3.21 COP 9,969

132.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.09 BMD 9.09

$5.71 COP 17.7K

59.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.54 BMD 4.54

$1.44 COP 4,467

215.28%

White Bread (500g)

$8.49 BMD 8.49

$2.40 COP 7,454

253.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.45 BMD 5.45

$1.70 COP 5,274

220.59%

Eggs

$7.60 BMD 7.60

$2.89 COP 8,975

162.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.75 BMD 18.75

$10.06 COP 31.2K

86.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.05 BMD 23.05

$9.97 COP 31.0K

131.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.43 BMD 27.43

$14.20 COP 44.1K

93.17%

Apples (1kg)

$12.87 BMD 12.87

$3.98 COP 12.4K

223.37%

Banana (1kg)

$6.57 BMD 6.57

$1.58 COP 4,921

315.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.06 BMD 7.06

$2.15 COP 6,682

228.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.96 BMD 3.96

$2.30 COP 7,141

72.17%

Potato (1kg)

$6.94 BMD 6.94

$2.00 COP 6,223

247.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 BMD 3.09

$1.51 COP 4,687

104.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.46 BMD 6.46

$1.20 COP 3,734

438.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.58 BMD 3.58

$1.28 COP 3,981

179.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.93 BMD 17.93

$3.84 COP 11.9K

366.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.64 BMD 24.64

$14.01 COP 43.5K

75.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.05 BMD 5.05

$1.71 COP 5,302

195.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.42 BMD 4.42

$2.74 COP 8,515

61.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.96 BMD 4.96

$1.25 COP 3,868

296.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$70.2 BMD 70.2

$77.9 COP 241.9K

-9.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.47 BMD 6.47

$1.31 COP 4,052

393.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.96 BMD 2.96

$2.17 COP 6,739

36.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$71.4 BMD 71.4

$8.29 COP 25.8K

760.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.42 BMD 2.42

$1.36 COP 4,209

77.94%

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

$37.2K BMD 37.2K

$27.5K COP 85.3M

35.27%

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

$42.4K BMD 42.4K

$36.5K COP 113.4M

16.08%

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

$252 BMD 252

$169 COP 523.8K

49.60%

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

$150 BMD 150

$13.57 COP 42.1K

1002.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$164 BMD 164

$28.32 COP 87.9K

478.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$185 BMD 185

$45.71 COP 141.9K

305.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.90 BMD 14.90

$17.22 COP 53.5K

-13.47%

Cinema Ticket

$13.59 BMD 13.59

$6.65 COP 20.6K

104.36%

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

$1,299 BMD 1,299

$803 COP 2.5M

61.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.0K BMD 25.0K

$9,190 COP 28.5M

172.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.6 BMD 90.6

$87.4 COP 271.2K

3.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.7 BMD 69.7

$59.4 COP 184.3K

17.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$143 BMD 143

$139 COP 431.3K

3.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 BMD 130

$102 COP 316.8K

27.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,714 BMD 3,714

$1,071 COP 3.3M

246.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,451 BMD 2,451

$653 COP 2.0M

275.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,589 BMD 8,589

$1,925 COP 6.0M

346.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$7,834 BMD 7,834

$1,048 COP 3.3M

647.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$15.0K BMD 15.0K

$4,123 COP 12.8M

264.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,099 BMD 9,099

$1,697 COP 5.3M

436.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,749 BMD 6,749

$655 COP 2.0M

930.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.63

10.94

-21.12%

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

Last update for Hamilton: September 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,714 in Hamilton versus $1,071 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 930% 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 $151 in Hamilton versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $767 vs $300 – 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: $4,857 in Hamilton, $1,641 in Medellin – roughly 196% apart. Hamilton costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,286 per month in Hamilton and $2,462 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 $151 in Hamilton and $48.00 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 $4,857 in Hamilton and $1,641 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Hamilton at $4,857. 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 $1,641 in Medellin to $4,857 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.