🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $2,148 in Hawkesbury City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $3,147 in Hawkesbury City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $4,146 in Hawkesbury City.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 53% less than in Hawkesbury City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% below, Hawkesbury City is 61% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Hawkesbury City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.6K
$10.85A$15.39
-45.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 103.8K
$89.4A$127
-63.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.4K
$9.61A$13.63
-22.68%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,207
$3.27A$4.64
-49.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,468
$2.50A$3.55
-56.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,458
$1.91A$2.70
-59.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,412
$6.44A$9.14
-73.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.0K
$7.27A$10.32
-56.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Hawkesbury City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,474
$1.16A$1.65
-5.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,962
$2.65A$3.76
-52.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,349
$1.83A$2.60
-24.59%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,858
$3.31A$4.69
-34.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.1K
$9.68A$13.73
-53.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.2K
$8.56A$12.14
-32.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.2K
$14.44A$20.49
-37.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,308
$2.29A$3.25
1.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,352
$2.55A$3.62
-58.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,774
$2.51A$3.56
-39.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,270
$4.79A$6.80
-71.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,552
$2.32A$3.29
-51.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,689
$1.95A$2.76
-40.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,838
$2.39A$3.39
-62.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,823
$0.53A$0.76
69.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,034
$30.32A$43.03
-92.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.2K
$14.30A$20.30
-15.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,743
$5.26A$7.46
-77.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,815
$5.99A$8.50
-58.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Hawkesbury City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,687
$2.63A$3.74
-67.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 131.0K
$64.5A$91.5
-35.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,459
$4.05A$5.74
-64.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,141
$1.82A$2.59
7.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.8K
$41.19A$58.5
-80.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,118
$1.14A$1.61
-13.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
$25.7KA$36.4K
-31.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
$19.1KA$27.1K
40.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Hawkesbury City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 261.4K
$163A$231
-49.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.5K
$29.27A$41.53
-66.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 74.1K
$52.1A$74.0
-54.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Hawkesbury City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 79.5K
$48.25A$68.5
-47.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.1K
$15.40A$21.85
24.03%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.4K
$11.26A$15.97
-64.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Hawkesbury City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 994.2K
$1,738A$2,466
-81.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.8M
$13.5KA$19.1K
-55.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Hawkesbury City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 188.9K
$72.1A$102
-16.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 100.2K
$56.2A$79.8
-43.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 320.1K
$77.4A$110
31.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 338.3K
$115A$163
-6.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Hawkesbury City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$1,271A$1,803
-62.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$1,081A$1,534
-65.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$1,999A$2,837
-57.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$1,698A$2,410
-57.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.3M
$5,747A$8,155
-43.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
$4,448A$6,312
-67.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Hawkesbury City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
$4,553A$6,460
-86.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.29
113.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Hawkesbury City: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $1,271 in Hawkesbury City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hawkesbury City pays 629% 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 $89.0 in Hawkesbury City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $328 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 Hawkesbury City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Hawkesbury City?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 114% lower than in Hawkesbury City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in Hawkesbury City?
On paper, salaries run 629% lower in Hawkesbury City. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Hawkesbury City?
Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Medellin versus $1,271 in Hawkesbury City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Hawkesbury City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 70% higher in Hawkesbury City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Hawkesbury City?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $89.0 in Hawkesbury City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or in Hawkesbury City?
At $1,003 in Medellin versus $2,148 in Hawkesbury City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Hawkesbury City. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Hawkesbury City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,003 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Hawkesbury City?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Hawkesbury City 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 114% less than in Hawkesbury City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.