Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamm and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamm and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,909 in Hamm versus $1,003 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,914 in Hamm versus $1,573 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,919 in Hamm versus $2,143 in Medellin.

Living in Hamm is roughly 90% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Hamm is 43% above, Medellin is 25% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamm
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.02 €13.09
$5.91 COP 18.9K
154.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.5 €51.0
$32.96 COP 105.2K
77.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.82 €9.43
$7.43 COP 23.7K
45.63%
Cappuccino
$4.54 €3.95
$1.65 COP 5,276
175.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.96
$1.10 COP 3,514
103.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 €2.49
$0.78 COP 2,491
266.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.74 €4.13
$1.72 COP 5,484
175.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 €3.36
$3.18 COP 10.1K
21.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamm
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 €1.08
$1.10 COP 3,521
12.73%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 €2.08
$1.26 COP 4,015
88.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.84 €3.35
$1.38 COP 4,407
178.26%
Eggs
$3.72 €3.24
$2.18 COP 6,950
70.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.81 €12.92
$4.49 COP 14.3K
229.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.29 €11.58
$5.79 COP 18.5K
129.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.31 €18.58
$8.97 COP 28.6K
137.57%
Apples (1kg)
$3.18 €2.77
$2.32 COP 7,405
37.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.52
$1.06 COP 3,397
65.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 €1.89
$1.52 COP 4,838
42.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.15 €4.49
$1.36 COP 4,327
278.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 €1.15
$1.13 COP 3,599
16.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 €1.24
$1.17 COP 3,738
21.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.71 €1.49
$0.90 COP 2,876
90.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 €0.90
$0.90 COP 2,861
14.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.34 €8.14
$2.23 COP 7,128
318.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.92 €6.03
$12.12 COP 38.7K
-42.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 €0.86
$1.19 COP 3,793
-16.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 €1.55
$2.48 COP 7,920
-28.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamm
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.19 €2.79
$0.85 COP 2,723
275.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$62.8 €54.7
$41.62 COP 132.8K
50.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.73 €5.00
$1.42 COP 4,518
303.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.59 €2.26
$1.95 COP 6,223
32.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.70 €30.25
$7.89 COP 25.2K
339.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.97 €1.72
$0.99 COP 3,160
98.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.5K €27.5K
$17.6K COP 56.2M
79.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K €34.1K
$26.8K COP 85.5M
45.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamm
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 €179
$83.0 COP 264.9K
147.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.05 €24.46
$9.70 COP 30.9K
189.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.0 €46.19
$23.52 COP 75.0K
125.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamm
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.75 €34.66
$25.26 COP 80.6K
57.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.84 €19.92
$19.10 COP 60.9K
19.58%
Cinema Ticket
$15.32 €13.36
$3.95 COP 12.6K
287.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamm
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$402 €351
$316 COP 1.0M
27.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K €10.1K
$5,975 COP 19.1M
94.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamm
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.0 €79.4
$60.0 COP 191.4K
51.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.63 €35.42
$31.82 COP 101.5K
27.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.1 €75.9
$102 COP 324.4K
-14.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 €111
$107 COP 342.8K
18.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamm
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$825 €719
$475 COP 1.5M
73.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$661 €576
$374 COP 1.2M
76.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,537 €1,340
$849 COP 2.7M
81.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,236 €1,078
$719 COP 2.3M
71.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,265 COP 10.4M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,441 COP 4.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamm
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,109 €1,839
$624 COP 2.0M
237.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.96
13.43
-70.51%

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

Last update for Hamm: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $825 in Hamm and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hamm pays 238% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $58.0 in Hamm vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 vs $193 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

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
Hamm vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Hamm and in Medellin?
Hamm and Medellin differ by about 90% in total monthly costs ($1,909 vs $1,003 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Hamm or Medellin?
Average pay runs 238% higher in Hamm, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Hamm and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $825 in Hamm versus $475 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Hamm and Medellin?
Childcare runs $402 in Hamm versus $316 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 81% higher in Hamm. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,003 in Medellin versus $1,909 in Hamm, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Hamm. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Hamm and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Hamm or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Hamm and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Hamm or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 90% less than in Hamm. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Hamm vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities