🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $900 in Hermel versus $1,003 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,412 in Hermel versus $1,573 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,923 in Hermel versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Hermel costs roughly 10% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Hermel32% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hermel
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.64LBP 951.9K
$5.91COP 18.9K
80.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.4LBP 5.3M
$32.96COP 105.2K
80.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.01LBP 717.1K
$7.43COP 23.7K
7.81%
Cappuccino
$3.40LBP 304.3K
$1.65COP 5,276
106.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65LBP 147.9K
$1.10COP 3,514
50.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87LBP 77.6K
$0.78COP 2,491
11.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.53LBP 316.0K
$1.72COP 5,484
105.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.02LBP 449.5K
$3.18COP 10.1K
57.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hermel
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77LBP 158.5K
$1.10COP 3,521
60.91%
White Bread(500g)
$0.85LBP 76.3K
$1.26COP 4,015
-32.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84LBP 164.5K
$1.38COP 4,407
33.33%
Eggs
$3.20LBP 286.6K
$2.18COP 6,950
46.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.38LBP 1.0M
$4.49COP 14.3K
153.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.70LBP 868.0K
$5.79COP 18.5K
67.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.25LBP 1.0M
$8.97COP 28.6K
25.42%
Apples(1kg)
$1.73LBP 154.7K
$2.32COP 7,405
-25.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46LBP 130.9K
$1.06COP 3,397
37.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.15LBP 103.2K
$1.52COP 4,838
-24.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.04LBP 93.0K
$1.36COP 4,327
-23.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01LBP 90.8K
$1.13COP 3,599
-10.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.04LBP 93.2K
$1.17COP 3,738
-11.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81LBP 72.5K
$0.90COP 2,876
-10.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52LBP 46.9K
$0.90COP 2,861
-42.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54LBP 227.0K
$2.23COP 7,128
13.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.98LBP 893.3K
$12.12COP 38.7K
-17.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24LBP 110.8K
$1.19COP 3,793
4.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21LBP 197.8K
$2.48COP 7,920
-10.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Hermel
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.85COP 2,723
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.62COP 132.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.96LBP 444.3K
$1.42COP 4,518
249.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29LBP 115.0K
$1.95COP 6,223
-33.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.74LBP 1.8M
$7.89COP 25.2K
150.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95LBP 84.7K
$0.99COP 3,160
-4.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5KLBP 3.2B
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
101.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4KLBP 2.5B
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
2.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hermel
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$216LBP 19.3M
$83.0COP 264.9K
159.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.78LBP 3.4M
$9.70COP 30.9K
289.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18LBP 3.3M
$23.52COP 75.0K
58.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hermel
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.26COP 80.6K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.10COP 60.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.13LBP 727.3K
$3.95COP 12.6K
105.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hermel
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303LBP 27.1M
$316COP 1.0M
-4.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,488LBP 401.7M
$5,975COP 19.1M
-24.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hermel
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.8LBP 6.4M
$60.0COP 191.4K
19.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.89LBP 4.0M
$31.82COP 101.5K
41.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$125LBP 11.2M
$102COP 324.4K
22.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.3LBP 8.3M
$107COP 342.8K
-13.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hermel
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$475COP 1.5M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$374COP 1.2M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$849COP 2.7M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$719COP 2.3M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,265COP 10.4M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,441COP 4.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hermel
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$624COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.16
13.43
-16.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hermel: July 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $59.0 in Hermel vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $193 per month, with Medellin 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
Hermel vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hermel or Medellin?
Hermel wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hermel the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Hermel and in Medellin?
You'd need roughly $1,350 in Hermel and $1,504 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.
Are groceries more expensive in Hermel or in Medellin?
Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Hermel compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $900 per month in Hermel versus $1,003 in Medellin – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Hermel or in Medellin?
At $900 in Hermel versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Hermel but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Hermel the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hermel or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Hermel delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $900 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Hermel hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Hermel gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.