Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilversum and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilversum and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,031 in Hilversum versus $1,017 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,470 in Hilversum versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,908 in Hilversum versus $2,188 in Medellin.

Living in Hilversum is roughly 198% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Hilversum is 126% above, Medellin is 24% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hilversum
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.98 €24.97
$5.95 COP 20.8K
387.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.0 €79.3
$33.33 COP 116.3K
176.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.29 €14.04
$7.23 COP 25.2K
125.31%
Cappuccino
$4.56 €3.93
$1.63 COP 5,687
179.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 €3.31
$1.09 COP 3,821
252.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 €2.71
$0.73 COP 2,548
330.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.72 €4.93
$1.74 COP 6,065
228.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.20 €4.48
$3.23 COP 11.3K
60.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hilversum
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.05 COP 3,662
30.48%
White Bread (500g)
$2.27 €1.96
$1.29 COP 4,515
75.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.65 €3.14
$1.32 COP 4,617
176.52%
Eggs
$4.95 €4.27
$2.27 COP 7,927
118.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.56 €10.82
$4.35 COP 15.2K
188.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.16 €14.78
$5.88 COP 20.5K
191.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.12 €14.75
$8.61 COP 30.0K
98.84%
Apples (1kg)
$1.89 €1.63
$2.25 COP 7,844
-16.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.59 €2.23
$1.07 COP 3,733
142.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.60
$1.52 COP 5,322
22.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.85 €3.32
$1.42 COP 4,964
171.13%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 €1.85
$1.17 COP 4,084
83.76%
Onion (1kg)
$2.22 €1.92
$1.17 COP 4,077
89.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.22 €1.05
$0.89 COP 3,096
37.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 €0.78
$0.90 COP 3,146
1.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.42 €10.70
$2.25 COP 7,837
452.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.75 €5.82
$11.04 COP 38.5K
-38.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$1.14 COP 3,977
31.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 €2.32
$2.38 COP 8,301
13.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Hilversum
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.52 €3.90
$0.84 COP 2,916
438.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.2 €84.6
$41.95 COP 146.4K
134.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.92 €5.10
$1.41 COP 4,912
319.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.12 €1.83
$1.90 COP 6,634
11.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.74 €24.76
$7.75 COP 27.0K
270.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.21 €1.90
$1.01 COP 3,509
118.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.6K €35.8K
$17.6K COP 61.4M
136.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.5K €34.9K
$26.5K COP 92.5M
52.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hilversum
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$260 €224
$83.7 COP 292.1K
211.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.56 €25.47
$9.45 COP 33.0K
212.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.3 €49.36
$24.11 COP 84.1K
137.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hilversum
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.2 €59.6
$25.31 COP 88.3K
173.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$42.02 €36.21
$19.14 COP 66.8K
119.54%
Cinema Ticket
$17.51 €15.08
$4.10 COP 14.3K
327.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hilversum
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$668 €575
$312 COP 1.1M
114.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,513 €6,474
$5,993 COP 20.9M
25.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hilversum
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$125 €108
$58.0 COP 202.6K
115.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.9 €53.3
$32.56 COP 113.6K
90.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$132 €113
$99.6 COP 347.7K
32.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$186 €160
$109 COP 378.8K
71.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hilversum
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,765 €1,521
$482 COP 1.7M
266.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,481 €1,276
$379 COP 1.3M
290.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,954 €2,546
$837 COP 2.9M
252.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,411 €2,078
$723 COP 2.5M
233.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,096 €6,114
$2,840 COP 9.9M
149.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,320 €4,584
$1,223 COP 4.3M
334.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hilversum
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,757 €3,237
$541 COP 1.9M
594.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.5
13.43
-66.49%

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

Last update for Hilversum: June 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,765 in Hilversum and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hilversum pays 595% 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: $92.0 in Hilversum vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 vs $190 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
Hilversum vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Hilversum and Medellin?
Hilversum and Medellin differ by about 198% in total monthly costs ($3,031 vs $1,017 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Hilversum or Medellin?
Hilversum pays 595% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Hilversum and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,765 in Hilversum versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Hilversum and Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 134% less than in Hilversum. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Hilversum and Medellin?
Childcare runs $668 in Hilversum versus $312 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $3,031 in Hilversum, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Hilversum. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Hilversum and Medellin?
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.
Is Hilversum or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Hilversum 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.
Where should expats move: Hilversum or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 198% less than in Hilversum. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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