😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,097 in Harrow versus $1,031 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,525 in Harrow versus $1,599 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,954 in Harrow versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Harrow is roughly 200% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Harrow is 132% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Harrow
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.37£15.16
$6.16COP 20.1K
230.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.3£69.5
$32.60COP 106.1K
186.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.40£7.00
$7.34COP 23.9K
28.07%
Cappuccino
$4.82£3.59
$1.72COP 5,599
180.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83£2.10
$1.05COP 3,420
169.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18£1.62
$0.77COP 2,515
183.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.49£4.83
$1.69COP 5,487
284.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.93£5.16
$3.17COP 10.3K
118.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Harrow
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59£1.18
$1.05COP 3,423
51.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.73£1.29
$1.30COP 4,236
33.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.22£3.14
$1.40COP 4,544
201.43%
Eggs
$6.13£4.57
$2.16COP 7,046
183.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.83£7.32
$4.39COP 14.3K
123.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.13£6.80
$5.88COP 19.1K
55.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.58£13.08
$8.64COP 28.1K
103.47%
Apples(1kg)
$3.43£2.55
$2.28COP 7,425
50.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21£0.90
$1.11COP 3,603
9.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.67£1.99
$1.53COP 4,982
74.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.57£4.15
$1.35COP 4,410
312.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39£1.03
$1.13COP 3,674
23.01%
Onion(1kg)
$4.10£3.05
$1.13COP 3,692
262.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19£0.88
$0.85COP 2,753
40.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29£0.96
$0.91COP 2,975
41.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$21.33£15.88
$2.34COP 7,629
811.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.58£7.88
$12.37COP 40.3K
-14.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01£1.50
$1.20COP 3,909
67.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34£1.00
$2.49COP 8,104
-46.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Harrow
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.89£2.15
$0.84COP 2,727
244.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.4£65.8
$40.57COP 132.1K
117.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.29£3.94
$1.42COP 4,623
272.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.10£1.57
$1.92COP 6,235
9.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.95£17.09
$7.66COP 24.9K
199.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.92£1.43
$0.99COP 3,223
93.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K£28.6K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
112.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K£30.8K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
55.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Harrow
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$182£135
$80.8COP 263.1K
125.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.39£11.46
$9.95COP 32.4K
54.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.95£33.47
$24.18COP 78.7K
85.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Harrow
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.0£40.95
$25.08COP 81.6K
119.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.03£14.91
$19.15COP 62.3K
4.60%
Cinema Ticket
$17.15£12.77
$3.98COP 13.0K
330.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Harrow
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,220£908
$305COP 993.4K
299.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.5K£13.8K
$6,059COP 19.7M
205.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Harrow
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.0£66.3
$58.1COP 189.2K
53.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.3£50.8
$32.20COP 104.8K
111.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110£81.6
$101COP 327.9K
8.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$206£153
$108COP 350.8K
91.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Harrow
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,484£1,849
$477COP 1.6M
421.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,749£1,302
$376COP 1.2M
364.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,736£2,782
$845COP 2.7M
342.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,842£2,116
$730COP 2.4M
289.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,481£5,570
$3,215COP 10.5M
132.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,238£5,389
$1,372COP 4.5M
427.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Harrow
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,042£3,754
$617COP 2.0M
717.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.77
13.43
-57.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Harrow: July 11, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,484 in Harrow and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Harrow pays 717% 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: $93.0 in Harrow vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 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
Harrow vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Harrow and in Medellin?
Harrow and Medellin differ by about 200% in total monthly costs ($3,097 vs $1,031 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Harrow or Medellin?
Average pay runs 717% higher in Harrow, 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 Harrow and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,484 in Harrow versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Harrow and in Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 118% less than in Harrow. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Harrow and Medellin?
Childcare runs $1,220 in Harrow versus $305 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $3,097 in Harrow, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Harrow. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Harrow 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 Harrow or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Harrow 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: Harrow or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 200% less than in Harrow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.