🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,030 in Medellin versus $2,608 in Haines, AK.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Medellin versus $3,794 in Haines, AK.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $4,979 in Haines, AK.
🙂Living in Medellin costs roughly 61% less than in Haines, AK, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Haines, AK is 95% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Haines, AK
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.2K
$18.74$18.74
-68.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17COP 118.7K
$74.3$74.3
-55.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.25COP 25.9K
$10.88$10.88
-33.36%
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 6,137
$5.22$5.22
-67.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COP 3,915
$2.51$2.51
-56.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,743
$2.05$2.05
-62.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.75COP 6,254
$6.11$6.11
-71.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 11.4K
$7.09$7.09
-55.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Haines, AK
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,792
$1.00$1.00
6.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,657
$3.44$3.44
-62.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,926
$4.45$4.45
-68.99%
Eggs
$2.21COP 7,908
$4.13$4.13
-46.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.52COP 16.2K
$12.07$12.07
-62.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.80COP 20.7K
$11.69$11.69
-50.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 32.1K
$15.14$15.14
-40.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29COP 8,182
$5.02$5.02
-54.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,791
$1.56$1.56
-32.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51COP 5,411
$4.17$4.17
-63.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,869
$4.69$4.69
-71.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,146
$2.86$2.86
-59.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 4,174
$2.76$2.76
-57.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83COP 2,960
$2.07$2.07
-59.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85COP 3,043
$2.18$2.18
-61.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35COP 8,423
$9.54$9.54
-75.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.09COP 39.7K
$14.92$14.92
-25.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15COP 4,133
$1.76$1.76
-34.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COP 8,853
$3.26$3.26
-24.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Haines, AK
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,827
$2.04$2.04
-61.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.85COP 149.8K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,140
$3.57$3.57
-59.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COP 6,793
$1.60$1.60
18.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.70COP 27.6K
$29.31$29.31
-73.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03COP 3,680
$0.84$0.84
22.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOP 63.3M
$29.5K$29.5K
-40.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0KCOP 96.7M
$25.4K$25.4K
6.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Haines, AK
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4COP 291.4K
$185$185
-55.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42COP 33.7K
$52.9$52.9
-82.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.77COP 85.1K
$68.3$68.3
-65.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Haines, AK
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.86COP 92.6K
$43.34$43.34
-40.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.34COP 69.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.05COP 14.5K
$13.66$13.66
-70.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Haines, AK
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COP 1.1M
$1,320$1,320
-76.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,067COP 21.7M
$23.9K$23.9K
-74.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Haines, AK
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9COP 210.7K
$50.6$50.6
16.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.82COP 117.5K
$40.16$40.16
-18.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100COP 359.6K
$86.4$86.4
16.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106COP 380.3K
$113$113
-6.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Haines, AK
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490COP 1.8M
$1,591$1,591
-69.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$371COP 1.3M
$1,350$1,350
-72.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COP 3.0M
$2,678$2,678
-68.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$715COP 2.6M
$2,198$2,198
-67.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,952COP 10.6M
$2,510$2,510
17.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,394COP 5.0M
$2,293$2,293
-39.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Haines, AK
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$532COP 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.51
106.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026
Last update for Haines, AK: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $490 in Medellin and $1,591 in Haines, AK. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33 in Medellin vs $74 in Haines, AK for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $387 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
Medellin vs Haines, AK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Haines, AK?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 153% lower than in Haines, AK. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin vs Haines, AK?
You'd need roughly $1,544 in Medellin and $3,912 in Haines, AK to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs Haines, AK?
Rent for a central apartment: $490 in Medellin versus $1,591 in Haines, AK. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and Haines, AK?
Childcare runs $312 in Medellin versus $1,320 in Haines, AK. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin vs Haines, AK?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $74.0 in Haines, AK. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or Haines, AK?
At $1,030 in Medellin versus $2,608 in Haines, AK, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Haines, AK. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Haines, AK?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,030 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Haines, AK?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Haines, AK are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 153% less than in Haines, AK. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.