😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,610 in Hamrun versus $1,013 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,696 in Hamrun versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,781 in Hamrun versus $2,192 in Medellin.
😐Living in Hamrun is roughly 59% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Hamrun is 20% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamrun
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.48€15.04
$5.99COP 21.4K
191.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.0€64.5
$32.86COP 117.4K
128.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.99€7.73
$7.09COP 25.3K
26.80%
Cappuccino
$1.86€1.60
$1.71COP 6,115
8.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
$1.10COP 3,924
101.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60€1.38
$0.78COP 2,781
105.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.83€2.43
$1.68COP 5,997
68.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.77
$3.07COP 11.0K
-33.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamrun
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36€1.17
$1.09COP 3,906
24.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31€1.12
$1.26COP 4,508
3.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.32€3.71
$1.38COP 4,922
213.04%
Eggs
$4.49€3.86
$2.19COP 7,827
105.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.23€8.80
$4.40COP 15.7K
132.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.27€7.97
$5.63COP 20.1K
64.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.77€11.84
$8.89COP 31.8K
54.89%
Apples(1kg)
$4.32€3.71
$2.34COP 8,349
84.62%
Banana(1kg)
$3.06€2.63
$1.06COP 3,777
188.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.25€2.80
$1.50COP 5,374
116.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.70€3.18
$1.38COP 4,924
168.12%
Potato(1kg)
$2.48€2.13
$1.15COP 4,111
115.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.29€1.11
$1.16COP 4,155
11.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.37€2.04
$0.89COP 3,182
166.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19€1.02
$0.84COP 2,997
41.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65€5.72
$2.28COP 8,145
191.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.40€7.23
$10.64COP 38.0K
-21.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86€1.60
$1.20COP 4,284
55.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$2.47COP 8,824
-9.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamrun
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.38€2.05
$0.86COP 3,056
176.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.40COP 147.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.82€5.01
$1.47COP 5,264
295.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06€0.91
$1.96COP 7,009
-45.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$49.78€42.82
$7.74COP 27.6K
543.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57€1.35
$0.95COP 3,409
65.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9K€33.4K
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
114.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.3K€32.1K
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
40.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamrun
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$95.2€81.9
$82.3COP 293.7K
15.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.05€24.12
$9.50COP 33.9K
195.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.75€24.73
$24.23COP 86.5K
18.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamrun
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.1€54.2
$25.89COP 92.4K
143.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.25€20.00
$19.00COP 67.9K
22.37%
Cinema Ticket
$10.49€9.03
$3.93COP 14.0K
166.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamrun
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$429€369
$309COP 1.1M
38.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.0K€9,494
$5,965COP 21.3M
85.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamrun
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4€78.6
$58.7COP 209.5K
55.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.65€33.25
$32.35COP 115.5K
19.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.2
$103COP 366.4K
-1.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100€86.3
$108COP 387.2K
-7.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamrun
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$705€607
$476COP 1.7M
48.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$643€553
$379COP 1.4M
69.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641€1,412
$838COP 3.0M
95.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,414€1,216
$724COP 2.6M
95.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,938€2,528
$2,791COP 10.0M
5.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,333€2,007
$1,211COP 4.3M
92.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamrun
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$512COP 1.8M
-
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $705 in Hamrun and $476 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 $316 vs $188 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 59% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,415 in Hamrun and $1,519 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: $705 in Hamrun versus $476 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 Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 68% higher in Hamrun. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Hamrun vs Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,610 per month in Hamrun versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Hamrun or Medellin?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,610 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 59% less than in Hamrun. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.