πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,610 in Hamrun.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $2,696 in Hamrun.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $3,781 in Hamrun.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 37% less than in Hamrun, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 24% below, Hamrun is 20% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Hamrun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$17.48β¬15.05
-65.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.2K
$75.0β¬64.6
-56.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$8.99β¬7.74
-21.13%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,105
$1.86β¬1.60
-8.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,918
$2.22β¬1.91
-50.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,776
$1.60β¬1.38
-51.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,987
$2.83β¬2.43
-40.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 10.9K
$2.05β¬1.77
49.76%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Hamrun
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,899
$1.36β¬1.17
-19.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,500
$1.31β¬1.12
-3.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,914
$4.32β¬3.72
-68.06%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,813
$4.49β¬3.87
-51.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$10.23β¬8.81
-56.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
$9.27β¬7.98
-39.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.7K
$13.77β¬11.86
-35.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,334
$4.32β¬3.72
-45.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,771
$3.06β¬2.63
-65.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,365
$3.25β¬2.80
-53.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,915
$3.70β¬3.19
-62.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,104
$2.48β¬2.13
-53.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,148
$1.29β¬1.11
-10.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,176
$2.37β¬2.04
-62.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,992
$1.19β¬1.02
-29.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,131
$6.65β¬5.72
-65.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 37.9K
$8.40β¬7.24
26.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,276
$1.86β¬1.60
-35.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,809
$2.24β¬1.93
10.27%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Hamrun
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,051
$2.38β¬2.05
-63.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.6K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,255
$5.82β¬5.01
-74.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 6,997
$1.06β¬0.91
84.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
$49.78β¬42.86
-84.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,403
$1.57β¬1.35
-39.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.6M
$38.9Kβ¬33.5K
-53.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.4M
$37.3Kβ¬32.1K
-28.93%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Hamrun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.2K
$95.2β¬82.0
-13.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
$28.05β¬24.15
-66.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.4K
$28.75β¬24.76
-15.72%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Hamrun
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.3K
$63.1β¬54.3
-58.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.7K
$23.25β¬20.02
-18.28%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$10.49β¬9.04
-62.54%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Hamrun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$429β¬369
-27.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
$11.0Kβ¬9,504
-45.95%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Hamrun
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.1K
$91.4β¬78.7
-35.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.3K
$38.65β¬33.29
-16.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 365.7K
$101β¬87.3
1.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 386.5K
$100β¬86.4
8.12%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Hamrun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$705β¬607
-32.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$643β¬554
-41.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$1,641β¬1,413
-48.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$1,414β¬1,218
-48.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 9.9M
$2,938β¬2,530
-5.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
$2,333β¬2,009
-48.07%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Hamrun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
2.7
397.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Hamrun: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $705 in Hamrun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $75.0 in Hamrun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $316 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 Hamrun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hamrun cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 59% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,519 in Medellin and $2,415 in Hamrun 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.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Hamrun?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $705 in Hamrun. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and Hamrun?
Supermarket bills run roughly 68% higher in Hamrun. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Hamrun?
All in, you'll spend $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $1,610 in Hamrun β a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Hamrun?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,610 in Hamrun, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Hamrun. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Hamrun more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hamrun, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Hamrun?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Hamrun 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet β expenses run 59% less than in Hamrun. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.