🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,028 in Medellin versus $3,073 in Harrow.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Medellin versus $4,485 in Harrow.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,144 in Medellin versus $5,896 in Harrow.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 67% less than in Harrow, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Harrow is 131% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Harrow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.00COP 20.6K
$20.00£15.15
-70.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.84COP 112.9K
$94.5£71.6
-65.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.42COP 25.5K
$9.22£6.99
-19.52%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,675
$4.83£3.66
-65.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07COP 3,673
$2.86£2.16
-62.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76COP 2,614
$2.18£1.65
-65.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,925
$6.49£4.91
-73.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20COP 11.0K
$6.94£5.26
-53.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Harrow
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,607
$1.62£1.23
-35.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,492
$1.81£1.37
-27.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34COP 4,604
$4.25£3.22
-68.47%
Eggs
$2.19COP 7,543
$5.98£4.53
-63.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.41COP 15.2K
$9.91£7.51
-55.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.69COP 19.6K
$9.08£6.88
-37.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.52COP 29.3K
$17.52£13.27
-51.37%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 8,046
$3.31£2.51
-29.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,815
$1.23£0.94
-9.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 5,225
$2.75£2.08
-44.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,694
$5.51£4.17
-75.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COP 3,962
$1.40£1.06
-17.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18COP 4,055
$3.96£3.00
-70.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84COP 2,893
$1.20£0.91
-30.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86COP 2,940
$1.29£0.98
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26COP 7,776
$22.11£16.75
-89.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.60COP 39.9K
$10.53£7.97
10.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,121
$2.07£1.56
-42.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 8,508
$1.34£1.01
85.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Harrow
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,729
$2.81£2.13
-71.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.83COP 140.4K
$88.7£67.2
-53.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COP 5,038
$5.34£4.05
-72.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,587
$2.16£1.64
-11.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.77COP 26.7K
$23.54£17.83
-66.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COP 3,474
$1.98£1.50
-48.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOP 60.7M
$38.2K£28.9K
-53.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 90.9M
$41.8K£31.6K
-36.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Harrow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.1COP 278.8K
$185£140
-56.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.43COP 32.4K
$15.32£11.61
-38.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.86COP 82.0K
$44.66£33.83
-46.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Harrow
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.99COP 89.4K
$54.3£41.15
-52.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71COP 64.3K
$19.99£15.14
-6.40%
Cinema Ticket
$4.09COP 14.1K
$17.10£12.95
-76.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Harrow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$315COP 1.1M
$1,179£893
-73.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,022COP 20.7M
$18.1K£13.7K
-66.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Harrow
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7COP 205.2K
$89.3£67.7
-33.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.97COP 109.9K
$66.6£50.5
-52.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 347.9K
$109£82.4
-6.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105COP 361.3K
$207£157
-49.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Harrow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$485COP 1.7M
$2,526£1,914
-80.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$365COP 1.3M
$1,732£1,312
-78.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$827COP 2.8M
$3,795£2,875
-78.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.5M
$2,857£2,164
-74.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,992COP 10.3M
$7,411£5,614
-59.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,314COP 4.5M
$7,346£5,565
-82.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Harrow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$551COP 1.9M
$5,039£3,817
-89.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
5.77
132.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026
Last update for Harrow: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $485 in Medellin and $2,526 in Harrow. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Harrow pays 815% 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $94.0 in Harrow for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $332 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 Harrow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Harrow?
Medellin and Harrow differ by about 199% in total monthly costs ($1,028 vs $3,073 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 815% lower in Harrow. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Harrow?
Rent for a central apartment: $485 in Medellin versus $2,526 in Harrow. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Harrow?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 117% less than in Harrow. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Harrow?
Childcare runs $315 in Medellin versus $1,179 in Harrow. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,028 in Medellin versus $3,073 in Harrow, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Harrow. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Harrow?
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.
Is Medellin or Harrow safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Harrow are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Harrow?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 199% less than in Harrow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.