😐A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $472 in Hamadan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $789 in Hamadan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,106 in Hamadan, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 114% more than Hamadan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Medellin and Hamadan are more affordable than the global median – Medellin24% lower, Hamadan65% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Hamadan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COP 21.4K
$3.90$3.90
53.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COP 117.4K
$18.08$18.08
81.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COP 25.3K
$3.51$3.51
101.99%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.68$0.68
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.01$1.01
-
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 6,115
$1.33$1.33
28.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,924
$0.46$0.46
139.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,781
$1.03$1.03
-24.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COP 5,997
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COP 11.0K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Hamadan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COP 3,906
$0.64$0.64
70.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 4,508
$0.54$0.54
133.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,922
$1.84$1.84
-25.00%
Eggs
$2.19COP 7,827
$1.00$1.00
119.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COP 15.7K
$3.45$3.45
27.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COP 20.1K
$3.13$3.13
79.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COP 31.8K
$10.69$10.69
-16.84%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 8,349
$0.93$0.93
151.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,777
$1.46$1.46
-27.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COP 5,374
$0.86$0.86
74.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,924
$0.63$0.63
119.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COP 4,111
$0.52$0.52
121.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,155
$0.54$0.54
114.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COP 3,182
$0.58$0.58
53.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COP 2,997
$0.25$0.25
236.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$0.59$0.59
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.56$0.56
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.51$1.51
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COP 8,145
$1.48$1.48
54.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COP 38.0K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,284
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COP 8,824
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Hamadan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COP 3,056
$0.23$0.23
273.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COP 147.9K
$10.14$10.14
308.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COP 5,264
$0.48$0.48
206.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COP 7,009
$0.27$0.27
625.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COP 27.6K
$1.47$1.47
426.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COP 3,409
$0.31$0.31
206.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
$79.5K$79.5K
-77.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
$55.4K$55.4K
-52.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Hamadan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COP 293.7K
$15.62$15.62
426.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COP 33.9K
$2.25$2.25
322.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COP 86.5K
$5.90$5.90
310.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Hamadan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COP 92.4K
$20.82$20.82
24.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COP 67.9K
$16.74$16.74
13.50%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COP 14.0K
$1.52$1.52
158.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Hamadan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COP 1.1M
$67.5$67.5
358.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COP 21.3M
$255$255
2241.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Hamadan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COP 209.5K
$31.01$31.01
89.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COP 115.5K
$33.61$33.61
-3.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COP 366.4K
$83.5$83.5
22.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 387.2K
$70.5$70.5
53.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Hamadan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COP 1.7M
$203$203
134.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COP 1.4M
$144$144
162.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COP 3.0M
$434$434
93.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COP 2.6M
$283$283
155.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COP 10.0M
$882$882
216.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COP 4.3M
$608$608
99.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Hamadan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COP 1.8M
$222$222
130.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
19.33
-30.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Hamadan: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $203 in Hamadan. 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 131% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $18.00 in Hamadan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $109 – making Hamadan 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 Hamadan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and Hamadan compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,013 in Medellin, $472 in Hamadan – roughly 114% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Hamadan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $708 in Hamadan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Hamadan?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hamadan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and Hamadan?
Public transport costs about 308% less in Hamadan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Hamadan?
Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Medellin and $67.5 in Hamadan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hamadan, where all-in costs run around $472, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Hamadan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Hamadan?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $472 in Hamadan to $1,013 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Medellin or Hamadan 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 Hamadan?
If budget matters most, go with Hamadan. 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.