😐A single person spends $1,646 per month in Humacao vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,600 per month in Humacao vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,555 per month in Humacao vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Humacao costs about 62% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Humacao sits 22% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Humacao
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.61$14.61
$5.95COP 21.2K
145.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.6$73.6
$33.33COP 118.9K
120.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.83$9.83
$7.23COP 25.8K
35.96%
Cappuccino
$3.54$3.54
$1.63COP 5,811
117.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78$1.78
$1.09COP 3,904
63.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38$1.38
$0.73COP 2,604
89.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.01$3.01
$1.74COP 6,197
72.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.07$4.07
$3.23COP 11.5K
26.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Humacao
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.40$2.40
$1.05COP 3,742
128.57%
White Bread(500g)
$3.55$3.55
$1.29COP 4,614
175.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.81$1.81
$1.32COP 4,718
37.12%
Eggs
$5.85$5.85
$2.27COP 8,101
157.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.77$8.77
$4.35COP 15.5K
101.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.62$5.62
$5.88COP 21.0K
-4.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.83$12.83
$8.61COP 30.7K
49.01%
Apples(1kg)
$3.05$3.05
$2.25COP 8,015
35.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.95$1.95
$1.07COP 3,814
82.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.54$3.54
$1.52COP 5,438
132.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.94$3.94
$1.42COP 5,073
177.46%
Potato(1kg)
$4.00$4.00
$1.17COP 4,173
241.88%
Onion(1kg)
$2.82$2.82
$1.17COP 4,166
141.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.54$2.54
$0.89COP 3,163
185.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64$0.64
$0.90COP 3,215
-28.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.32$11.32
$2.25COP 8,008
403.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.99$9.99
$11.04COP 39.4K
-9.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19$1.19
$1.14COP 4,063
4.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24$3.24
$2.38COP 8,483
36.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Humacao
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.84COP 2,979
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.95COP 149.6K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.41COP 5,019
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.19$1.19
$1.90COP 6,779
-37.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.85$14.85
$7.75COP 27.6K
91.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82$0.82
$1.01COP 3,586
-18.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K$19.7K
$17.6KCOP 62.7M
12.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K$25.2K
$26.5KCOP 94.5M
-4.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Humacao
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$339$339
$83.7COP 298.4K
304.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$78.9$78.9
$9.45COP 33.7K
734.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.2$73.2
$24.11COP 86.0K
203.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Humacao
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.32$30.32
$25.31COP 90.3K
19.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14COP 68.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.63$7.63
$4.10COP 14.6K
86.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Humacao
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$461$461
$312COP 1.1M
47.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3K$10.3K
$5,993COP 21.4M
71.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Humacao
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.39$46.39
$58.0COP 207.0K
-20.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.7$55.7
$32.56COP 116.1K
71.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.0$90.0
$99.6COP 355.3K
-9.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.0$81.0
$109COP 387.1K
-25.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Humacao
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$685$685
$482COP 1.7M
42.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$432$432
$379COP 1.4M
13.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,362$1,362
$837COP 3.0M
62.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$981$981
$723COP 2.6M
35.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,746$3,746
$2,840COP 10.1M
31.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,620$1,620
$1,223COP 4.4M
32.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Humacao
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,081$2,081
$541COP 1.9M
284.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.71
13.43
-57.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Humacao: June 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $685 in Humacao versus $482 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 285% higher in Humacao, 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 $74.0 in Humacao versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $312 vs $190 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Humacao vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Humacao?
Yes – Humacao is pricier by about 62%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,469 per month in Humacao and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Humacao vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,646 in Humacao and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $461 per month in Humacao and $312 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Humacao or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Humacao at $1,646. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Humacao it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Humacao or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Humacao makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.