🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,166 in Hermanus versus $1,641 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,821 in Hermanus versus $2,447 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,475 in Hermanus versus $3,253 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Hermanus costs roughly 29% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Hermanus is 15% below, Medellin is 19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hermanus
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.55R 218
$8.04COP 24.8K
68.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.29R 601
$48.29COP 148.6K
-22.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.99R 96.5
$9.42COP 29.0K
-36.41%
Cappuccino
$2.40R 38.57
$2.94COP 9,040
-18.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07R 17.22
$1.86COP 5,735
-42.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81R 13.02
$1.46COP 4,479
-44.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.15R 34.60
$3.21COP 9,882
-33.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44R 39.23
$5.71COP 17.6K
-57.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hermanus
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21R 19.50
$1.44COP 4,428
-15.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.17R 18.76
$2.40COP 7,389
-51.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67R 26.97
$1.70COP 5,228
-1.76%
Eggs
$2.89R 46.54
$2.89COP 8,896
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.80R 142
$10.06COP 30.9K
-12.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.27R 84.8
$9.97COP 30.7K
-47.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.48R 104
$14.20COP 43.7K
-54.37%
Apples(1kg)
$1.79R 28.86
$3.98COP 12.3K
-55.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72R 27.76
$1.58COP 4,878
8.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65R 26.62
$2.15COP 6,624
-23.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.71R 27.58
$2.30COP 7,078
-25.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.43R 23.07
$2.00COP 6,169
-28.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.68R 27.04
$1.51COP 4,646
11.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37R 21.98
$1.20COP 3,701
14.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36R 21.92
$1.28COP 3,946
6.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.30R 53.2
$3.84COP 11.8K
-14.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.39R 119
$14.01COP 43.1K
-47.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51R 24.31
$1.71COP 5,256
-11.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03R 32.65
$2.74COP 8,440
-25.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Hermanus
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.72R 27.68
$1.25COP 3,834
37.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$77.9COP 239.7K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.65R 10.43
$1.31COP 4,016
-50.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82R 13.24
$2.17COP 6,680
-62.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.45R 152
$8.29COP 25.5K
13.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46R 23.56
$1.36COP 4,172
7.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7KR 509.9K
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
15.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KR 553.6K
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-5.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hermanus
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$143R 2,296
$169COP 519.2K
-15.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.21R 567
$13.57COP 41.8K
159.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.48R 684
$28.32COP 87.2K
50.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hermanus
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.68R 349
$45.71COP 140.7K
-52.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.32R 231
$17.22COP 53.0K
-16.84%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09R 98.1
$6.65COP 20.5K
-8.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hermanus
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$282R 4,534
$803COP 2.5M
-64.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,468R 104.2K
$9,190COP 28.3M
-29.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hermanus
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7R 897
$87.4COP 268.8K
-36.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.35R 618
$59.4COP 182.7K
-35.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107R 1,726
$139COP 427.5K
-22.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.0R 1,498
$102COP 314.0K
-8.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hermanus
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$421R 6,785
$1,071COP 3.3M
-60.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$370R 5,956
$653COP 2.0M
-43.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$817R 13.2K
$1,925COP 5.9M
-57.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774R 12.5K
$1,048COP 3.2M
-26.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$881R 14.2K
$4,123COP 12.7M
-78.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$685R 11.0K
$1,697COP 5.2M
-59.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hermanus
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$655COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11
10.94
0.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hermanus: September 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $421 in Hermanus and $1,071 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $37.00 in Hermanus vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $300 per month, with Hermanus 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
Hermanus vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Hermanus?
Hermanus is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,749 in Hermanus and $2,462 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Hermanus and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $421 in Hermanus versus $1,071 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Hermanus and in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 47% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Hermanus and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,166 per month in Hermanus versus $1,641 in Medellin – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Hermanus or in Medellin?
At $1,166 in Hermanus versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Hermanus but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Hermanus the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Hermanus or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Hermanus is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Hermanus or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Hermanus 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Hermanus gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.