Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Harrisburg, PA

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,589 a month against $2,508 in Harrisburg, PA, rent and utilities included – about $11,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

77

Cost of Living Index in Medellin
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Medellin Living Index
121

Cost of Living Index in Harrisburg, PA
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Harrisburg, PA Living Index

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Medellin

🇨🇴 Colombia

$1,589

/mo nomad

Harrisburg, PA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,508

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Harrisburg, PA

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 Harrisburg, PA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,589 in Medellin versus $2,508 in Harrisburg, PA.

Medellin $1,589
Harrisburg, PA $2,508

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,364 in Medellin versus $3,613 in Harrisburg, PA.

Medellin $2,364
Harrisburg, PA $3,613

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,139 in Medellin versus $4,717 in Harrisburg, PA.

Medellin $3,139
Harrisburg, PA $4,717

Living in Medellin costs roughly 37% less than in Harrisburg, PA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin 19% above, Harrisburg, PA 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.01 COP 25.5K

$13.66 $13.66

-41.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.55 COP 148.3K

$65.3 $65.3

-28.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 COP 30.1K

$10.71 $10.71

-11.95%

Cappuccino

$2.91 COP 9,277

$5.05 $5.05

-42.38%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 COP 5,585

$2.83 $2.83

-38.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 COP 4,218

$2.30 $2.30

-42.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.13 COP 9,969

$5.19 $5.19

-39.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.55 COP 17.7K

$7.01 $7.01

-20.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 COP 4,495

$1.34 $1.34

5.22%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 COP 7,777

$3.97 $3.97

-38.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 COP 5,191

$2.63 $2.63

-38.02%

Eggs

$2.82 COP 8,990

$6.33 $6.33

-55.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 COP 30.9K

$15.19 $15.19

-36.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.32 COP 29.7K

$14.17 $14.17

-34.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.46 COP 42.9K

$19.01 $19.01

-29.20%

Apples (1kg)

$4.00 COP 12.8K

$4.37 $4.37

-8.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 COP 4,719

$1.74 $1.74

-14.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 COP 6,768

$5.43 $5.43

-60.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,178

$5.37 $5.37

-58.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 COP 6,092

$2.97 $2.97

-35.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.62 COP 5,160

$4.00 $4.00

-59.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 COP 3,658

$2.06 $2.06

-44.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 COP 4,021

$2.80 $2.80

-55.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.82 COP 12.2K

$10.70 $10.70

-64.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.11 COP 41.8K

$14.83 $14.83

-11.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 5,083

$2.53 $2.53

-36.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 COP 7,188

$4.95 $4.95

-54.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,731

$2.57 $2.57

-54.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.0 COP 239.0K

$49.83 $49.83

50.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 COP 4,056

$6.64 $6.64

-80.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 COP 6,531

$1.88 $1.88

9.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.20 COP 26.1K

$39.76 $39.76

-79.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 COP 4,046

$1.13 $1.13

12.39%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.8K COP 85.3M

$26.3K $26.3K

1.83%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.4K COP 109.6M

$27.2K $27.2K

26.58%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$162 COP 516.9K

$162 $162

-0.11%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.12 COP 41.8K

$43.81 $43.81

-70.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.09 COP 89.5K

$73.7 $73.7

-61.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.33 COP 141.2K

$27.12 $27.12

63.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 COP 52.0K

$19.69 $19.69

-17.06%

Cinema Ticket

$6.09 COP 19.4K

$11.17 $11.17

-45.48%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$764 COP 2.4M

$1,100 $1,100

-30.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,904 COP 28.4M

$21.0K $21.0K

-57.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.0 COP 270.8K

$40.24 $40.24

111.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.5 COP 183.2K

$33.14 $33.14

73.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 COP 419.8K

$80.1 $80.1

64.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.8 COP 305.1K

$99.7 $99.7

-3.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,028 COP 3.3M

$1,434 $1,434

-28.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 COP 1.9M

$1,261 $1,261

-52.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,802 COP 5.7M

$2,033 $2,033

-11.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$993 COP 3.2M

$2,009 $2,009

-50.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,921 COP 12.5M

$1,873 $1,873

109.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,639 COP 5.2M

$1,814 $1,814

-9.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$626 COP 2.0M

$4,173 $4,173

-85.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

6.29

73.93%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026

Last update for Harrisburg, PA: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Medellin

$604 38.3%

Harrisburg, PA

$1.3K 50.5% 109% $657

Groceries & Markets

Medellin

$288 18.3%

Harrisburg, PA

$454 18.2% 57.5% $166

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Medellin

$203 12.9%

Harrisburg, PA

$280 11.2% 37.6% $76

Clothing & Footwear

Medellin

$166 10.6%

Harrisburg, PA

$114 4.6% 31.6% $53

Eating Out

Medellin

$166 10.6%

Harrisburg, PA

$262 10.5% 57.8% $96

Getting Around

Medellin

$91 5.8%

Harrisburg, PA

$76 3.1% 16.5% $15

Sport & Entertainment

Medellin

$57 3.6%

Harrisburg, PA

$49 2% 12.5% $7

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,028 in Medellin and $1,434 in Harrisburg, PA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Harrisburg, PA pays 567% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $47.00 in Medellin vs $65.0 in Harrisburg, PA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $454 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇨🇴 Medellin

🇺🇸 Harrisburg, PA

🕒 Local time

00:55 12:55 AM

01:55 1:55 AM

1 h ahead of Medellin

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,486,723

49,528

💱 Currency

Colombian Peso COP $

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 COP = 3.14 USD

10,000 COP = 2.8 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇴 Colombian Peso ($)

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 USD = 3,187 COP (10,000 COP = 3.14 USD). 1 EUR = 3,571 COP (10,000 COP = 2.8 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

USD to COP in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Medellin Harrisburg, PA 3,780 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

Medellin
Harrisburg, PA

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 Harrisburg, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin and Harrisburg, PA differ by about 58% in total monthly costs ($1,589 vs $2,508 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 567% lower in Harrisburg, PA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,028 in Medellin versus $1,434 in Harrisburg, PA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $764 in Medellin versus $1,100 in Harrisburg, PA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 57% higher in Harrisburg, PA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,589 in Medellin versus $2,508 in Harrisburg, PA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Harrisburg, PA. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Harrisburg, PA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Harrisburg, PA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.