Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Hafnarfjordur

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,639 a month against $3,853 in Hafnarfjordur, rent and utilities included – about $26,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Hafnarfjordur, Iceland
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Hafnarfjordur
🇮🇸 Iceland
$3,853
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Hafnarfjordur

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

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $3,853 in Hafnarfjordur, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Hafnarfjordur $3,853

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $5,410 in Hafnarfjordur, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Hafnarfjordur $5,410

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $6,967 in Hafnarfjordur, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Hafnarfjordur $6,967

Medellin is about 57% cheaper than Hafnarfjordur, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Medellin and Hafnarfjordur sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Hafnarfjordur by 183%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 26.1K
$31.04 ISK 3,768
-73.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 151.9K
$125 ISK 15.1K
-62.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.7K
$16.40 ISK 1,991
-42.07%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,735
$6.71 ISK 814
-55.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,809
$3.33 ISK 405
-45.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,561
$3.14 ISK 382
-55.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.3K
$14.02 ISK 1,703
-77.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.6K
$12.11 ISK 1,470
-52.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,876
$1.67 ISK 203
-9.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,678
$4.21 ISK 511
-43.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,720
$3.71 ISK 450
-52.29%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,333
$7.26 ISK 881
-60.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.9K
$21.51 ISK 2,611
-52.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.9K
$24.40 ISK 2,962
-59.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 45.2K
$41.76 ISK 5,070
-66.50%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.8K
$3.24 ISK 394
22.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 5,012
$2.48 ISK 301
-37.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,048
$3.19 ISK 388
-31.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,051
$6.41 ISK 779
-65.99%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,337
$3.93 ISK 477
-50.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,132
$1.64 ISK 200
-3.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,699
$3.69 ISK 448
-68.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 4,014
$1.82 ISK 221
-31.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.8K
$14.04 ISK 1,705
-71.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 44.2K
$24.05 ISK 2,920
-43.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,359
$3.53 ISK 428
-52.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,291
$3.38 ISK 411
-33.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,771
$5.10 ISK 620
-77.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 249.8K
$85.0 ISK 10.3K
-8.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,094
$6.92 ISK 840
-81.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,612
$2.84 ISK 345
-27.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.6K
$80.8 ISK 9,811
-89.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,349
$2.00 ISK 243
-32.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.0M
$68.7K ISK 8.3M
-50.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 111.9M
$55.8K ISK 6.8M
-37.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 547.8K
$69.4 ISK 8,419
144.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 43.8K
$32.65 ISK 3,964
-58.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 90.6K
$85.0 ISK 10.3K
-66.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 141.1K
$65.1 ISK 7,900
-32.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 55.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 22.3K
$17.08 ISK 2,073
-59.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.6M
$1,172 ISK 142.3K
-32.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 29.4M
$25.9K ISK 3.1M
-64.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 273.5K
$125 ISK 15.1K
-32.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 187.2K
$67.1 ISK 8,150
-13.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 435.8K
$124 ISK 15.1K
8.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 316.0K
$246 ISK 29.9K
-60.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.9M
$2,496 ISK 303.1K
-51.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.1M
$2,075 ISK 251.8K
-69.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.5M
$3,232 ISK 392.3K
-37.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.3M
$2,670 ISK 324.2K
-62.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.5M
$7,011 ISK 851.1K
-40.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.2M
$7,014 ISK 851.6K
-72.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$4,674 ISK 567.4K
-85.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
8.81
24.18%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Hafnarfjordur: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Hafnarfjordur
$2.1K 223% $1.4K
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Hafnarfjordur
$615 107% $318
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Hafnarfjordur
$187 11.5% $24
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Hafnarfjordur
$498 194% $329
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Hafnarfjordur
$253 49.8% $84
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Hafnarfjordur
$127 35.3% $33
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Hafnarfjordur
$99 72.5% $42

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $2,496 in Hafnarfjordur. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Hafnarfjordur are about 7.1 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $125 in Hafnarfjordur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $615 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇮🇸 Hafnarfjordur
🕒 Local time
02:07 2:07 AM
07:07 7:07 AM
5 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
31,525
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ISK, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,605 COP (10,000 COP = 2.77 EUR).

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 121 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.24 USD). 1 EUR = 136 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.38 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Hafnarfjordur 7,690 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Hafnarfjordur

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
Medellin vs Hafnarfjordur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Hafnarfjordur?
Hafnarfjordur costs about 135% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Hafnarfjordur?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $5,780 in Hafnarfjordur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Hafnarfjordur?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,208 there versus $2,496 in Hafnarfjordur.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Hafnarfjordur?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,639 in Medellin and $3,853 in Hafnarfjordur. That makes Medellin about 57% cheaper.
How expensive is transport in Medellin compared to Hafnarfjordur?
Public transport costs about 9% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Medellin or in Hafnarfjordur?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,639, than in Hafnarfjordur at $3,853. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hafnarfjordur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
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.
Should I move to Medellin or to Hafnarfjordur?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hafnarfjordur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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