Cost of Living Comparison Between Hawassa and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Hawassa and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $823 per month in Hawassa vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,230 per month in Hawassa vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,637 per month in Hawassa vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Hawassa is about 18% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Hawassa and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Hawassa 38% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.46 ETB 713

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-24.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.65 ETB 5,534

$32.96 COP 103.8K

5.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.53 ETB 1,044

$7.43 COP 23.4K

-12.11%

Cappuccino

$1.28 ETB 205

$1.65 COP 5,207

-22.42%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ETB 103

$1.10 COP 3,468

-41.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ETB 69.8

$0.78 COP 2,458

-43.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ETB 163

$1.72 COP 5,412

-40.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 ETB 488

$3.18 COP 10.0K

-3.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 ETB 223

$1.10 COP 3,474

26.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ETB 213

$1.26 COP 3,962

5.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ETB 158

$1.38 COP 4,349

-28.26%

Eggs

$1.58 ETB 253

$2.18 COP 6,858

-27.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.01 ETB 1,119

$4.49 COP 14.1K

56.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.95 ETB 2,227

$5.79 COP 18.2K

140.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.27 ETB 2,118

$8.97 COP 28.2K

47.94%

Apples (1kg)

$6.81 ETB 1,088

$2.32 COP 7,308

193.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ETB 165

$1.06 COP 3,352

-2.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 ETB 364

$1.52 COP 4,774

50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 ETB 159

$1.36 COP 4,270

-26.47%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ETB 100

$1.13 COP 3,552

-44.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 ETB 306

$1.17 COP 3,689

63.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ETB 112

$0.90 COP 2,838

-22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ETB 101

$0.90 COP 2,823

-30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.88 ETB 620

$2.23 COP 7,034

73.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.46 ETB 871

$12.12 COP 38.2K

-54.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ETB 159

$1.19 COP 3,743

-15.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 ETB 307

$2.48 COP 7,815

-22.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ETB 240

$1.42 COP 4,459

5.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ETB 42.71

$1.95 COP 6,141

-86.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 ETB 314

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-75.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 ETB 208

$0.99 COP 3,118

31.31%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$54.3K ETB 8.7M

$17.6K COP 55.4M

208.41%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$54.5K ETB 8.7M

$26.8K COP 84.4M

103.40%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$156 ETB 25.0K

$83.0 COP 261.4K

88.47%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.85 ETB 1,892

$9.70 COP 30.5K

22.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$130 ETB 20.7K

$23.52 COP 74.1K

452.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$5.61 ETB 895

$3.95 COP 12.4K

42.03%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$82.5 ETB 13.2K

$316 COP 994.2K

-73.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.7K ETB 6.5M

$5,975 COP 18.8M

581.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.78 ETB 7,630

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-20.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.7 ETB 12.2K

$31.82 COP 100.2K

140.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.3 ETB 14.9K

$102 COP 320.1K

-8.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ETB 18.0K

$107 COP 338.3K

4.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$501 ETB 80.0K

$1,441 COP 4.5M

-65.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

26.58%

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

Last update for Hawassa: July 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Hawassa versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $193 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Hawassa vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $823 in Hawassa, $1,003 in Medellin – roughly 22% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,234 per month in Hawassa and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Hawassa and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 34% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hawassa, where all-in costs run around $823, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Hawassa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $823 in Hawassa to $1,003 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Hawassa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.