🙂A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $2,627 in 's-Hertogenbosch, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $4,178 in 's-Hertogenbosch, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $5,730 in 's-Hertogenbosch, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 36% cheaper than 's-Hertogenbosch, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and 's-Hertogenbosch sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, 's-Hertogenbosch by 92%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
's-Hertogenbosch
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.3K
$25.50€22.22
-68.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 151.0K
$106€92.3
-54.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.2K
$16.21€14.12
-38.99%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,873
$4.99€4.35
-37.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,019
$3.94€3.43
-51.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,763
$3.56€3.10
-57.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,853
$5.70€4.96
-45.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.1K
$4.76€4.14
20.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
's-Hertogenbosch
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,558
$1.26€1.10
14.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,843
$2.22€1.93
12.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,595
$3.66€3.18
-51.64%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,336
$5.76€5.02
-48.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.8K
$15.80€13.77
-36.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.9K
$16.23€14.14
-37.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.1K
$18.60€16.20
-23.12%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.0K
$3.23€2.81
28.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,073
$2.50€2.18
-35.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,083
$2.40€2.09
-6.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,104
$5.76€5.02
-60.94%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,444
$2.00€1.74
2.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,842
$2.41€2.10
-36.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,691
$1.36€1.18
-13.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,121
$1.31€1.14
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.3K
$13.46€11.73
-71.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.2K
$7.40€6.44
89.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,498
$1.48€1.29
17.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,053
$3.29€2.86
-12.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
's-Hertogenbosch
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,834
$3.22€2.80
-62.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 253.9K
$66.9€58.3
20.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,129
$3.69€3.21
-64.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,899
$2.42€2.11
-9.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.5K
$29.60€25.78
-70.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,306
$2.49€2.17
-44.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 87.8M
$42.1K€36.6K
-33.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 112.8M
$40.5K€35.3K
-11.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
's-Hertogenbosch
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 559.3K
$202€176
-12.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.8K
$23.84€20.77
-41.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 93.8K
$46.33€40.37
-35.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
's-Hertogenbosch
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 141.6K
$44.47€38.75
0.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.0K
$16.04€13.97
6.73%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.0K
$14.28€12.44
-53.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
's-Hertogenbosch
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$1,365€1,189
-40.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.0M
$5,717€4,981
60.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
's-Hertogenbosch
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 282.3K
$70.8€61.7
26.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 186.0K
$58.5€51.0
0.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 435.9K
$103€89.9
33.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 322.1K
$147€128
-30.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
's-Hertogenbosch
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$1,650€1,438
-35.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$1,223€1,066
-45.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$2,689€2,342
-29.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$2,492€2,171
-58.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.2M
$6,647€5,791
-37.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$4,909€4,277
-65.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
's-Hertogenbosch
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$3,733€3,252
-81.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
4.46
145.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for 's-Hertogenbosch: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $1,650 in 's-Hertogenbosch. 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 451% higher in 's-Hertogenbosch, 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $106 in 's-Hertogenbosch. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $387 – 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
Medellin vs 's-Hertogenbosch: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in 's-Hertogenbosch compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,681 in Medellin, $2,627 in 's-Hertogenbosch – roughly 56% apart. 's-Hertogenbosch costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to 's-Hertogenbosch?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $3,940 in 's-Hertogenbosch. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and 's-Hertogenbosch?
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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 27% more in 's-Hertogenbosch, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $106 in 's-Hertogenbosch. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in 's-Hertogenbosch at $2,627. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in 's-Hertogenbosch it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and 's-Hertogenbosch?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,681 in Medellin to $2,627 in 's-Hertogenbosch. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Medellin or 's-Hertogenbosch 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 Medellin and 's-Hertogenbosch?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, 's-Hertogenbosch makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.