Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hoi An and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Hoi An: $876 a month against $1,625 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $9,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Hoi An
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$876
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hoi An and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hoi An and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $876 per month in Hoi An vs $1,625 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Hoi An $876
  • Medellin $1,625

A couple spends around $1,279 per month in Hoi An vs $2,412 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Hoi An $1,279
  • Medellin $2,412

A family of three spends $1,682 per month in Hoi An vs $3,199 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Hoi An $1,682
  • Medellin $3,199

Hoi An is about 46% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Hoi An sits 35% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hoi An
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.28 ₫59.1K
$8.30 COP 26.3K
-72.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.56 ₫480.5K
$46.91 COP 148.7K
-60.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.77 ₫97.7K
$9.24 COP 29.3K
-59.20%
Cappuccino
$1.74 ₫44.9K
$3.05 COP 9,676
-42.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₫16.0K
$1.80 COP 5,707
-65.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ₫8,896
$1.38 COP 4,382
-75.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.36 ₫35.2K
$3.24 COP 10.3K
-58.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₫34.0K
$5.56 COP 17.6K
-76.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hoi An
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 ₫40.8K
$1.50 COP 4,760
5.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.20 ₫31.2K
$2.37 COP 7,508
-49.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.00 ₫25.9K
$1.70 COP 5,377
-41.18%
Eggs
$1.49 ₫38.5K
$2.96 COP 9,379
-49.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.96 ₫335.6K
$10.22 COP 32.4K
26.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.09 ₫105.8K
$9.74 COP 30.9K
-58.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.27 ₫239.9K
$13.90 COP 44.1K
-33.31%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 ₫68.2K
$4.13 COP 13.1K
-36.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 ₫28.6K
$1.53 COP 4,839
-27.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.00 ₫26.0K
$2.22 COP 7,052
-54.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ₫37.4K
$2.27 COP 7,194
-36.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.18 ₫30.6K
$1.99 COP 6,311
-40.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ₫28.1K
$1.67 COP 5,285
-34.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.62 ₫16.1K
$1.18 COP 3,742
-47.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₫12.8K
$1.24 COP 3,919
-60.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.50 ₫38.7K
$3.87 COP 12.3K
-61.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.57 ₫196.1K
$13.78 COP 43.7K
-45.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 ₫23.9K
$1.66 COP 5,256
-44.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₫39.4K
$2.40 COP 7,615
-36.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Hoi An
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 ₫5,666
$1.24 COP 3,944
-82.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$3.82 ₫98.8K
$78.2 COP 248.0K
-95.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.99 ₫25.6K
$1.28 COP 4,044
-22.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ₫14.7K
$2.15 COP 6,803
-73.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.96 ₫102.6K
$8.37 COP 26.5K
-52.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 ₫24.3K
$1.35 COP 4,288
-30.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K ₫800.8M
$34.8K COP 110.2M
-11.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K ₫736.2M
$34.7K COP 110.0M
-18.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hoi An
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.8 ₫2.0M
$167 COP 528.4K
-53.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 ₫167.1K
$13.62 COP 43.2K
-52.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.03 ₫207.9K
$29.12 COP 92.3K
-72.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hoi An
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.74 ₫433.5K
$45.09 COP 143.0K
-62.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.74 ₫122.8K
$17.18 COP 54.5K
-72.41%
Cinema Ticket
$3.06 ₫79.1K
$6.97 COP 22.1K
-56.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hoi An
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$116 ₫3.0M
$790 COP 2.5M
-85.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.1K ₫441.8M
$9,041 COP 28.7M
88.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hoi An
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.44 ₫1.2M
$87.8 COP 278.4K
-47.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.51 ₫712.2K
$58.2 COP 184.4K
-52.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.8 ₫1.8M
$139 COP 440.7K
-50.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.9 ₫2.1M
$98.9 COP 313.5K
-18.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hoi An
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$433 ₫11.2M
$1,028 COP 3.3M
-57.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$395 ₫10.2M
$620 COP 2.0M
-36.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$533 ₫13.8M
$1,881 COP 6.0M
-71.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$626 ₫16.2M
$1,008 COP 3.2M
-37.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,561 ₫40.4M
$3,988 COP 12.6M
-60.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$982 ₫25.4M
$1,702 COP 5.4M
-42.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hoi An
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$294 ₫7.6M
$663 COP 2.1M
-55.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.34
10.94
-5.48%

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

Last update for Hoi An: October 19, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hoi An
$395
Medellin
$619 56.7% $224
Groceries & Markets
Hoi An
$193
Medellin
$298 54.5% $105
Clothing & Footwear
Hoi An
$101
Medellin
$173 71.6% $72
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hoi An
$92
Medellin
$209 127% $117
Eating Out
Hoi An
$64
Medellin
$171 168% $107
Sport & Entertainment
Hoi An
$23
Medellin
$59 158% $36
Getting Around
Hoi An
$8.5
Medellin
$95 1019% $87

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $433 in Hoi An versus $1,028 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 126% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Hoi An versus $47.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $298 – making Hoi An the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇻🇳 Hoi An
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
18:39 6:39 PM
06:39 6:39 AM
12 h behind Hoi An
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
120,000
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to VND – Vietnamese Dong Converter

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 25,889 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 29,105 VND (100,000 VND = 3.44 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hoi An Medellin 17,510 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Hoi An
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Hoi An vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Hoi An and in Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $876 in Hoi An, $1,625 in Medellin – roughly 85% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Hoi An compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,314 per month in Hoi An and $2,437 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Hoi An and Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hoi An, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Hoi An and Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $116 per month in Hoi An and $790 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 54% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hoi An, where all-in costs run around $876, than in Medellin at $1,625. In Hoi An it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Hoi An and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Hoi An has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $876 in Hoi An to $1,625 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Hoi An or Medellin safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Hoi An and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Hoi An. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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