😐A single person spends $2,343 per month in Herentals vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,386 per month in Herentals vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,429 per month in Herentals vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Herentals costs about 43% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Herentals and Medellin sit above the global median – Herentals by 70%, Medellin by 19%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Herentals
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.85€16.25
$8.04COP 24.8K
134.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.5€80.6
$48.29COP 148.7K
93.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.50€10.78
$9.42COP 29.0K
32.70%
Cappuccino
$3.73€3.22
$2.94COP 9,045
26.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72€3.21
$1.86COP 5,738
100.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74€2.36
$1.46COP 4,481
87.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.92€5.10
$3.21COP 9,887
84.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.04
$5.71COP 17.6K
-17.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Herentals
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$1.44COP 4,431
-11.11%
White Bread(500g)
$2.81€2.42
$2.40COP 7,393
17.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.90€3.36
$1.70COP 5,230
129.41%
Eggs
$3.90€3.36
$2.89COP 8,901
34.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$24.94€21.50
$10.06COP 31.0K
147.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.09€10.43
$9.97COP 30.7K
21.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.64€13.49
$14.20COP 43.7K
10.14%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.81
$3.98COP 12.3K
-18.34%
Banana(1kg)
$2.48€2.13
$1.58COP 4,880
56.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.99€3.44
$2.15COP 6,627
85.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.13€2.70
$2.30COP 7,082
36.09%
Potato(1kg)
$2.69€2.32
$2.00COP 6,172
34.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.15€1.85
$1.51COP 4,648
42.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.80€1.55
$1.20COP 3,703
50.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15€0.99
$1.28COP 3,948
-10.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.34€8.92
$3.84COP 11.8K
169.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.10€6.12
$14.01COP 43.1K
-49.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63€2.27
$1.71COP 5,259
53.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20€2.76
$2.74COP 8,444
16.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Herentals
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.28€2.82
$1.25COP 3,836
162.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.3€48.53
$77.9COP 239.9K
-27.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.36€4.62
$1.31COP 4,018
309.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.67€2.30
$2.17COP 6,684
23.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.11€14.76
$8.29COP 25.5K
106.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.81€1.56
$1.36COP 4,174
33.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.2K€31.2K
$27.5KCOP 84.6M
31.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K€29.8K
$36.5KCOP 112.5M
-5.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Herentals
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$351€302
$169COP 519.5K
107.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.22€22.61
$13.57COP 41.8K
93.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.2€52.8
$28.32COP 87.2K
116.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Herentals
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.81€32.61
$45.71COP 140.8K
-17.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.93€18.05
$17.22COP 53.0K
21.54%
Cinema Ticket
$14.86€12.82
$6.65COP 20.5K
123.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Herentals
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$871€751
$803COP 2.5M
8.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.4K€19.3K
$9,190COP 28.3M
143.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Herentals
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.6€72.1
$87.4COP 269.0K
-4.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.4€44.34
$59.4COP 182.8K
-13.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€91.0
$139COP 427.7K
-24.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170€146
$102COP 314.2K
66.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Herentals
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952€821
$1,071COP 3.3M
-11.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$855€737
$653COP 2.0M
30.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,456€1,256
$1,925COP 5.9M
-24.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,178€1,015
$1,048COP 3.2M
12.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,241€3,657
$4,123COP 12.7M
2.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,033€2,615
$1,697COP 5.2M
78.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Herentals
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$655COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.65
10.94
-66.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Herentals: September 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Herentals versus $1,071 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $94.0 in Herentals versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $384 vs $300 – 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
Herentals vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Herentals?
Yes – Herentals is pricier by about 43%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,515 per month in Herentals and $2,462 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Herentals or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $94.0 in Herentals and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Herentals and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,343 in Herentals and $1,641 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Herentals or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Herentals at $2,343. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Herentals it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Herentals or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Herentals or Medellin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Herentals makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.