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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,831 per month in Hamilton vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $9,260 per month in Hamilton vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $13.7K per month in Hamilton vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Hamilton costs about 377% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Hamilton sits 261% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$60.6 BMD 60.6

$5.99 COP 21.4K

911.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$177 BMD 177

$32.86 COP 117.4K

438.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.87 BMD 14.87

$7.09 COP 25.3K

109.73%

Cappuccino

$6.46 BMD 6.46

$1.71 COP 6,115

277.78%

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

$3.37 BMD 3.37

$1.10 COP 3,924

206.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 BMD 2.90

$0.78 COP 2,781

271.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.16 BMD 10.16

$1.68 COP 5,997

504.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.44 BMD 8.44

$3.07 COP 11.0K

174.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.38 BMD 4.38

$1.09 COP 3,906

301.83%

White Bread (500g)

$8.71 BMD 8.71

$1.26 COP 4,508

591.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.59 BMD 5.59

$1.38 COP 4,922

305.07%

Eggs

$7.75 BMD 7.75

$2.19 COP 7,827

253.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.49 BMD 11.49

$4.40 COP 15.7K

161.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.12 BMD 24.12

$5.63 COP 20.1K

328.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$31.75 BMD 31.75

$8.89 COP 31.8K

257.14%

Apples (1kg)

$10.16 BMD 10.16

$2.34 COP 8,349

334.19%

Banana (1kg)

$6.18 BMD 6.18

$1.06 COP 3,777

483.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$12.86 BMD 12.86

$1.50 COP 5,374

757.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.27 BMD 11.27

$1.38 COP 4,924

716.67%

Potato (1kg)

$8.15 BMD 8.15

$1.15 COP 4,111

608.70%

Onion (1kg)

$4.96 BMD 4.96

$1.16 COP 4,155

327.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.06 BMD 6.06

$0.89 COP 3,182

580.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.21 BMD 3.21

$0.84 COP 2,997

282.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.58 BMD 17.58

$2.28 COP 8,145

671.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.56 BMD 24.56

$10.64 COP 38.0K

130.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.47 BMD 5.47

$1.20 COP 4,284

355.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 BMD 4.43

$2.47 COP 8,824

79.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.81 BMD 4.81

$0.86 COP 3,056

459.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.1 BMD 68.1

$41.40 COP 147.9K

64.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.40 BMD 6.40

$1.47 COP 5,264

335.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.44 BMD 3.44

$1.96 COP 7,009

75.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$54.8 BMD 54.8

$7.74 COP 27.6K

608.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.36 BMD 2.36

$0.95 COP 3,409

148.42%

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

$35.0K BMD 35.0K

$18.1K COP 64.7M

93.20%

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

$39.7K BMD 39.7K

$26.5K COP 94.6M

50.03%

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

$234 BMD 234

$82.3 COP 293.7K

184.85%

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

$117 BMD 117

$9.50 COP 33.9K

1136.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$156 BMD 156

$24.23 COP 86.5K

543.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$191 BMD 191

$25.89 COP 92.4K

638.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.31 BMD 32.31

$19.00 COP 67.9K

70.05%

Cinema Ticket

$13.73 BMD 13.73

$3.93 COP 14.0K

249.36%

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

$1,338 BMD 1,338

$309 COP 1.1M

332.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.5K BMD 24.5K

$5,965 COP 21.3M

311.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.8 BMD 78.8

$58.7 COP 209.5K

34.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.9 BMD 60.9

$32.35 COP 115.5K

88.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 BMD 138

$103 COP 366.4K

34.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 BMD 126

$108 COP 387.2K

15.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,342 BMD 3,342

$476 COP 1.7M

601.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,198 BMD 2,198

$379 COP 1.4M

480.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,541 BMD 8,541

$838 COP 3.0M

918.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$7,359 BMD 7,359

$724 COP 2.6M

916.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$15.1K BMD 15.1K

$2,791 COP 10.0M

439.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,439 BMD 9,439

$1,211 COP 4.3M

679.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,759 BMD 6,759

$512 COP 1.8M

1220.64%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,342 in Hamilton 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.

Salaries run about 1221% 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: $813 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

Hamilton vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,831 in Hamilton, $1,013 in Medellin – roughly 377% apart. Hamilton costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,247 per month in Hamilton 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 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 $4,831 in Hamilton and $1,013 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 $1,013, than in Hamilton at $4,831. 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 $1,013 in Medellin to $4,831 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.