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