Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hasselt and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,639 a month against $2,021 in Hasselt, rent and utilities included – about $4,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Hasselt, Belgium
Medellin, Colombia
Hasselt
🇧🇪 Belgium
$2,021
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hasselt and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hasselt and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,021 per month in Hasselt vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Hasselt $2,021
  • Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $3,042 per month in Hasselt vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Hasselt $3,042
  • Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $4,063 per month in Hasselt vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Hasselt $4,063
  • Medellin $3,186

Hasselt costs about 23% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Hasselt and Medellin sit above the global median – Hasselt by 49%, Medellin by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hasselt
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.32 €20.05
$8.09 COP 25.4K
175.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$97.7 €87.8
$47.05 COP 148.0K
107.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.60 €12.22
$9.50 COP 29.9K
43.16%
Cappuccino
$3.80 €3.41
$3.01 COP 9,485
26.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 €3.16
$1.80 COP 5,660
95.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 €2.92
$1.41 COP 4,443
130.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.43 €4.87
$3.18 COP 9,990
70.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.16 €4.63
$5.75 COP 18.1K
-10.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hasselt
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 €1.21
$1.51 COP 4,751
-11.26%
White Bread (500g)
$2.42 €2.17
$2.38 COP 7,480
1.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.28 €2.04
$1.77 COP 5,573
28.81%
Eggs
$3.23 €2.91
$2.89 COP 9,093
11.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.01 €7.19
$10.19 COP 32.1K
-21.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.71 €10.52
$9.87 COP 31.1K
18.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.25 €19.98
$13.99 COP 44.0K
59.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.03 €1.82
$3.97 COP 12.5K
-48.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 €1.49
$1.55 COP 4,883
7.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.61 €2.35
$2.18 COP 6,867
19.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.69 €2.42
$2.18 COP 6,870
23.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 €1.66
$1.96 COP 6,174
-5.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 €1.23
$1.59 COP 5,000
-13.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 €0.90
$1.15 COP 3,604
-13.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 €0.97
$1.24 COP 3,911
-12.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.64 €11.36
$3.96 COP 12.5K
219.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.84 €7.94
$13.68 COP 43.0K
-35.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 €1.45
$1.66 COP 5,221
-2.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 €1.84
$2.26 COP 7,103
-9.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Hasselt
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.15 €2.83
$1.17 COP 3,674
169.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.27 €28.99
$77.4 COP 243.4K
-58.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.71 €5.13
$1.27 COP 3,989
349.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.62 €2.35
$2.05 COP 6,442
27.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$36.45 €32.74
$8.55 COP 26.9K
326.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.98 €1.77
$1.35 COP 4,237
46.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K €31.4K
$34.1K COP 107.2M
2.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K €30.4K
$34.7K COP 109.1M
-2.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hasselt
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$212 €191
$170 COP 533.7K
25.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34 €17.37
$13.55 COP 42.6K
42.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.00 €42.22
$28.07 COP 88.3K
67.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hasselt
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.97 €25.12
$43.70 COP 137.5K
-36.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.18 €8.25
$17.19 COP 54.1K
-46.60%
Cinema Ticket
$15.00 €13.47
$6.91 COP 21.7K
117.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hasselt
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,664 €1,494
$797 COP 2.5M
108.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$33.0K €29.7K
$9,112 COP 28.7M
262.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hasselt
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$115 €104
$84.7 COP 266.5K
36.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.3 €47.87
$58.0 COP 182.3K
-8.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 €95.3
$135 COP 424.6K
-21.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134 €120
$97.9 COP 307.9K
36.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hasselt
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$906 €814
$1,208 COP 3.8M
-24.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$800 €719
$642 COP 2.0M
24.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,457 €1,308
$2,028 COP 6.4M
-28.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 €1,095
$1,012 COP 3.2M
20.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,588 €4,122
$4,170 COP 13.1M
10.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,398 €2,154
$1,910 COP 6.0M
25.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hasselt
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,045 €2,735
$657 COP 2.1M
363.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.53
10.94
-67.73%

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

Last update for Hasselt: October 24, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hasselt
$800
Medellin
$642 19.8% $158
Eating Out
Hasselt
$329
Medellin
$170 48.5% $160
Groceries & Markets
Hasselt
$308
Medellin
$297 3.6% $11
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hasselt
$278
Medellin
$211 24.1% $67
Clothing & Footwear
Hasselt
$184
Medellin
$169 8.1% $15
Getting Around
Hasselt
$64
Medellin
$94 47% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Hasselt
$58
Medellin
$58 0.8% $0.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $906 in Hasselt versus $1,208 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 in Hasselt are about 4.6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98 in Hasselt versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $308 vs $297 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇪 Hasselt
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
19:04 7:04 PM
13:04 1:04 PM
6 h behind Hasselt
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,694
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.898 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 3,146 COP (10,000 COP = 3.18 USD). 1 EUR = 3,502 COP (10,000 COP = 2.86 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hasselt Medellin 8,830 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Hasselt
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Hasselt vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Hasselt and in Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,021 in Hasselt, $1,639 in Medellin – roughly 23% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Hasselt compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,032 per month in Hasselt and $2,459 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Hasselt and Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hasselt, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $906 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Hasselt and Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $1,664 per month in Hasselt and $797 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 4% more in Hasselt, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How far does $2,500 go in Hasselt compared to Medellin?
$2,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $2,021 in Hasselt and $1,639 in Medellin, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Hasselt and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,639 in Medellin to $2,021 in Hasselt. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Hasselt and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hasselt makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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