😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,641 in Medellin versus $1,301 in Hatillo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,447 in Medellin versus $2,063 in Hatillo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,253 in Medellin versus $2,826 in Hatillo.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 26% more expensive than in Hatillo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 19% above, Hatillo is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Hatillo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$18.64$18.64
-56.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$82.9$82.9
-41.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$9.14$9.14
3.06%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$3.79$3.79
-22.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$1.87$1.87
-0.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$1.23$1.23
18.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
$2.95$2.95
8.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$4.85$4.85
17.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Hatillo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$2.28$2.28
-36.84%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$3.72$3.72
-35.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$2.33$2.33
-27.04%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$7.34$7.34
-60.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$12.64$12.64
-20.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$9.84$9.84
1.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$13.07$13.07
8.65%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$5.21$5.21
-23.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$2.56$2.56
-38.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$4.92$4.92
-56.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
$4.90$4.90
-53.06%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$3.81$3.81
-47.51%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$4.04$4.04
-62.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$3.54$3.54
-66.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$1.63$1.63
-21.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$12.05$12.05
-68.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$15.61$15.61
-10.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
$3.12$3.12
-45.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
$4.09$4.09
-33.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Hatillo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$2.51$2.51
-47.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$1.52$1.52
42.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$42.13$42.13
-80.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$1.11$1.11
22.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$40.6K$40.6K
-32.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$27.5K$27.5K
32.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Hatillo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$319$319
-47.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$70.1$70.1
-80.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$70.1$70.1
-59.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Hatillo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$10.67$10.67
-37.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Hatillo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$821$821
-2.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$12.5K$12.5K
-26.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Hatillo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$56.4$56.4
54.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$61.7$61.7
-3.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$111$111
25.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$112$112
-8.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Hatillo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Hatillo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
6.55
67.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Hatillo: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $83.0 in Hatillo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $419 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 Hatillo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hatillo cheaper than Medellin?
Hatillo is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,462 in Medellin and $1,951 in Hatillo 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 do food prices compare in Medellin and in Hatillo?
Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 40% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Hatillo?
All in, you'll spend $1,641 per month in Medellin versus $1,301 in Hatillo – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Hatillo?
At $1,301 in Hatillo versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Hatillo but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Hatillo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Hatillo more family-friendly?
For families, Hatillo is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Hatillo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.