Cost of Living Comparison Between Hickory, NC and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Hickory, NC and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Hickory, NC versus $1,003 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,153 in Hickory, NC versus $1,573 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,079 in Hickory, NC versus $2,143 in Medellin.

Living in Hickory, NC is roughly 122% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Hickory, NC is 67% above, Medellin is 25% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.18 $20.18

$5.91 COP 18.6K

241.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.6 $68.6

$32.96 COP 103.8K

108.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.79 $10.79

$7.43 COP 23.4K

45.22%

Cappuccino

$5.72 $5.72

$1.65 COP 5,207

246.67%

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

$2.81 $2.81

$1.10 COP 3,468

155.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$0.78 COP 2,458

193.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 $6.05

$1.72 COP 5,412

251.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.10 $7.10

$3.18 COP 10.0K

123.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.10 COP 3,474

-9.09%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 $3.64

$1.26 COP 3,962

188.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.55 $4.55

$1.38 COP 4,349

229.71%

Eggs

$2.49 $2.49

$2.18 COP 6,858

14.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.54 $12.54

$4.49 COP 14.1K

179.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.31 $9.31

$5.79 COP 18.2K

60.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.40 $19.40

$8.97 COP 28.2K

116.28%

Apples (1kg)

$5.80 $5.80

$2.32 COP 7,308

150.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.06 COP 3,352

19.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.23 $7.23

$1.52 COP 4,774

375.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$1.36 COP 4,270

318.38%

Potato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$1.13 COP 3,552

330.09%

Onion (1kg)

$3.64 $3.64

$1.17 COP 3,689

211.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 $1.92

$0.90 COP 2,838

113.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$0.90 COP 2,823

148.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.18 $7.18

$2.23 COP 7,034

221.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.58 $15.58

$12.12 COP 38.2K

28.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.19 COP 3,743

35.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.48 COP 7,815

19.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.85 COP 2,687

48.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.21 $44.21

$41.62 COP 131.0K

6.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 $3.57

$1.42 COP 4,459

151.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.95 COP 6,141

-18.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.67 $17.67

$7.89 COP 24.8K

123.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.99 COP 3,118

-19.19%

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

$35.6K $35.6K

$17.6K COP 55.4M

102.45%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$26.8K COP 84.4M

-6.61%

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

$160 $160

$83.0 COP 261.4K

92.86%

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

$54.7 $54.7

$9.70 COP 30.5K

464.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.0 $63.0

$23.52 COP 74.1K

168.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.35 $35.35

$25.26 COP 79.5K

39.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$13.19 $13.19

$3.95 COP 12.4K

233.92%

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

$1,720 $1,720

$316 COP 994.2K

444.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.0K $10.0K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

68.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.14 $46.14

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-23.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.71 $46.71

$31.82 COP 100.2K

46.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.7 $94.7

$102 COP 320.1K

-6.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$107 COP 338.3K

32.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,192 $1,192

$475 COP 1.5M

150.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$991 $991

$374 COP 1.2M

164.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$849 COP 2.7M

120.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,317 $1,317

$719 COP 2.3M

83.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,206 $2,206

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-32.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,114 $2,114

$1,441 COP 4.5M

46.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,380 $4,380

$624 COP 2.0M

601.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.85

13.43

-63.89%

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

Last update for Hickory, NC: July 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,192 in Hickory, NC and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hickory, NC pays 601% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $69.0 in Hickory, NC vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $412 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

Hickory, NC vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hickory, NC and Medellin differ by about 122% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $1,003 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 601% higher in Hickory, NC, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,192 in Hickory, NC versus $475 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $69.0 in Hickory, NC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,227 per month in Hickory, NC versus $1,003 in Medellin – a 122% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,003 in Medellin versus $2,227 in Hickory, NC, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Hickory, NC. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 122% less than in Hickory, NC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.