😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,588 in Hamrun versus $1,031 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,666 in Hamrun versus $1,599 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,743 in Hamrun versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Hamrun is roughly 54% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Hamrun is 19% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamrun
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.10€14.96
$6.16COP 20.1K
177.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.8€65.5
$32.60COP 106.1K
129.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.38€8.20
$7.34COP 23.9K
27.79%
Cappuccino
$1.85€1.62
$1.72COP 5,600
7.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21€1.93
$1.05COP 3,420
110.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60€1.40
$0.77COP 2,515
107.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.82€2.47
$1.69COP 5,488
66.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.79
$3.17COP 10.3K
-35.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamrun
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30€1.14
$1.05COP 3,423
23.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30€1.13
$1.30COP 4,236
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.23€3.70
$1.40COP 4,544
202.14%
Eggs
$4.49€3.93
$2.16COP 7,047
107.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.29€9.01
$4.39COP 14.3K
134.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.58€8.39
$5.88COP 19.1K
62.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.06€12.30
$8.64COP 28.1K
62.73%
Apples(1kg)
$4.43€3.88
$2.28COP 7,426
94.30%
Banana(1kg)
$3.20€2.80
$1.11COP 3,604
188.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.24€2.83
$1.53COP 4,983
111.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.82€3.34
$1.35COP 4,410
182.96%
Potato(1kg)
$2.60€2.28
$1.13COP 3,674
130.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35€1.18
$1.13COP 3,692
19.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.42€2.12
$0.85COP 2,753
184.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25€1.10
$0.91COP 2,975
37.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$2.34COP 7,630
181.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.49€7.43
$12.37COP 40.3K
-31.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85€1.62
$1.20COP 3,909
54.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€2.04
$2.49COP 8,104
-6.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamrun
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.06
$0.84COP 2,728
180.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$40.57COP 132.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.78€5.05
$1.42COP 4,623
307.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02€0.90
$1.92COP 6,235
-46.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$50.0€43.75
$7.66COP 24.9K
552.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.58€1.38
$0.99COP 3,223
59.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€34.1K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
116.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.2K€33.4K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
43.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamrun
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$92.7€81.1
$80.8COP 263.1K
14.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.81€25.21
$9.95COP 32.4K
189.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.19€25.54
$24.18COP 78.7K
20.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamrun
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.6€54.7
$25.08COP 81.7K
149.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.51€20.57
$19.15COP 62.3K
22.77%
Cinema Ticket
$10.43€9.13
$3.98COP 13.0K
162.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamrun
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$422€369
$305COP 993.5K
38.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.2K€9,797
$6,059COP 19.7M
84.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamrun
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.0€80.5
$58.1COP 189.2K
58.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.20€33.42
$32.20COP 104.8K
18.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€91.9
$101COP 327.9K
4.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103€90.3
$108COP 350.8K
-4.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamrun
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$697€610
$477COP 1.6M
46.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$625€547
$376COP 1.2M
66.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,631€1,427
$845COP 2.7M
93.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,400€1,225
$730COP 2.4M
91.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,793€2,444
$3,215COP 10.5M
-13.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,251€1,969
$1,372COP 4.5M
64.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamrun
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.7
13.43
-79.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamrun: July 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $697 in Hamrun and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $75.0 in Hamrun vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 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
Hamrun vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Hamrun?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 54% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,382 in Hamrun and $1,546 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Hamrun and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $697 in Hamrun versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Hamrun and in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 67% higher in Hamrun. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Hamrun and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,588 per month in Hamrun versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Hamrun or in Medellin?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,588 in Hamrun, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Hamrun. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Hamrun or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hamrun, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Hamrun or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Hamrun 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Hamrun. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.