😐A single person spends $2,275 per month in Hengelo vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,458 per month in Hengelo vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,641 per month in Hengelo vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Hengelo costs about 125% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Hengelo sits 70% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hengelo
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.58€17.73
$5.99COP 21.4K
243.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.6€74.6
$32.86COP 117.2K
163.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.85€11.93
$7.09COP 25.3K
95.35%
Cappuccino
$3.98€3.43
$1.71COP 6,105
132.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08€3.52
$1.10COP 3,918
270.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76€2.37
$0.78COP 2,776
253.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.91€5.95
$1.68COP 5,987
311.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88€5.06
$3.07COP 10.9K
91.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hengelo
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26€1.08
$1.09COP 3,899
15.60%
White Bread(500g)
$2.23€1.92
$1.26COP 4,500
76.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.01€2.60
$1.38COP 4,914
118.12%
Eggs
$4.55€3.91
$2.19COP 7,813
107.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.18€12.21
$4.40COP 15.7K
222.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.20€13.09
$5.63COP 20.1K
169.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.09€14.72
$8.89COP 31.7K
92.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.44€2.10
$2.34COP 8,334
4.27%
Banana(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$1.06COP 3,771
139.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.74
$1.50COP 5,365
34.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.88€3.35
$1.38COP 4,915
181.16%
Potato(1kg)
$1.95€1.68
$1.15COP 4,104
69.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$1.16COP 4,148
67.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23€1.06
$0.89COP 3,176
38.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73€0.63
$0.84COP 2,992
-13.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.03€12.08
$2.28COP 8,131
515.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.29€6.28
$10.64COP 37.9K
-31.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.23
$1.20COP 4,276
19.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64€2.27
$2.47COP 8,809
6.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Hengelo
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.29€4.55
$0.86COP 3,051
515.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$94.0€80.9
$41.40COP 147.6K
126.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.59€3.09
$1.47COP 5,255
144.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41€2.07
$1.96COP 6,997
22.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.15€23.37
$7.74COP 27.6K
250.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.33€2.01
$0.95COP 3,403
145.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K€29.1K
$18.1KCOP 64.6M
86.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.6K€30.7K
$26.5KCOP 94.4M
34.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hengelo
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$286€246
$82.3COP 293.2K
247.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.69€22.98
$9.50COP 33.9K
180.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.43€40.84
$24.23COP 86.4K
95.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hengelo
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.79€26.51
$25.89COP 92.3K
18.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.49€20.22
$19.00COP 67.7K
23.63%
Cinema Ticket
$16.11€13.87
$3.93COP 14.0K
309.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hengelo
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,096€943
$309COP 1.1M
254.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.2K€9,607
$5,965COP 21.3M
87.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hengelo
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113€97.1
$58.7COP 209.1K
92.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.95€39.57
$32.35COP 115.3K
42.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100€86.3
$103COP 365.7K
-2.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130€112
$108COP 386.5K
19.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hengelo
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,366€1,176
$476COP 1.7M
186.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$849€731
$379COP 1.4M
124.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888€1,626
$838COP 3.0M
125.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,515€1,305
$724COP 2.6M
109.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,767€4,966
$2,791COP 9.9M
106.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,723€4,067
$1,211COP 4.3M
289.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hengelo
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,776€2,391
$512COP 1.8M
442.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.39
13.43
-67.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hengelo: June 2, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,366 in Hengelo versus $476 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 run about 442% higher in Hengelo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $87.0 in Hengelo versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $340 vs $188 – 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
Hengelo vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Hengelo and Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,275 in Hengelo, $1,013 in Medellin – roughly 125% apart. Hengelo costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Hengelo compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,413 per month in Hengelo and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Hengelo and Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 81% more in Hengelo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $87.0 in Hengelo and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Hengelo at $2,275. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hengelo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Hengelo and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,013 in Medellin to $2,275 in Hengelo. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Hengelo or Medellin safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Hengelo and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hengelo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.