🙂A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $2,289 in Hay River, NT, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $3,282 in Hay River, NT, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $4,275 in Hay River, NT, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 28% cheaper than Hay River, NT, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Hay River, NT sit above the global median – Medellin by 19%, Hay River, NT by 66%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Hay River, NT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$17.85CA$24.75
-54.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.7K
$65.9CA$91.4
-26.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$10.78CA$14.95
-12.62%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,045
$3.59CA$4.98
-18.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,738
$1.99CA$2.76
-6.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,481
$1.64CA$2.27
-10.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,887
$5.50CA$7.63
-41.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$5.84CA$8.10
-2.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Hay River, NT
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,431
$2.06CA$2.86
-30.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,393
$2.65CA$3.67
-9.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,230
$3.34CA$4.63
-49.10%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,901
$3.40CA$4.72
-15.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 31.0K
$10.08CA$13.98
-0.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$11.51CA$15.97
-13.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$15.16CA$21.03
-6.33%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$3.77CA$5.23
5.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,880
$1.36CA$1.89
16.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,627
$3.82CA$5.30
-43.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,082
$3.74CA$5.18
-38.50%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,172
$2.55CA$3.53
-21.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,648
$2.30CA$3.19
-34.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,703
$2.46CA$3.42
-51.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,948
$1.63CA$2.26
-21.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$14.40CA$19.97
-73.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$12.77CA$17.71
9.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,259
$2.67CA$3.70
-35.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,444
$3.05CA$4.23
-10.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Hay River, NT
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,836
$2.29CA$3.17
-45.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.9K
$63.8CA$88.5
22.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,018
$2.89CA$4.01
-54.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,684
$1.52CA$2.11
42.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$24.07CA$33.39
-65.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,174
$1.17CA$1.62
16.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.6M
$28.2KCA$39.1K
-2.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.5M
$19.5KCA$27.1K
86.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Hay River, NT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.5K
$139CA$193
21.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$39.18CA$54.3
-65.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$56.8CA$78.7
-50.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Hay River, NT
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.8K
$42.09CA$58.4
8.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
$18.56CA$25.74
-7.22%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$11.28CA$15.64
-41.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Hay River, NT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$765CA$1,060
5.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$13.7KCA$18.9K
-32.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Hay River, NT
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 269.0K
$54.2CA$75.2
61.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.8K
$38.96CA$54.0
52.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.7K
$87.8CA$122
58.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.2K
$101CA$141
0.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Hay River, NT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$1,169CA$1,621
-8.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$1,173CA$1,626
-44.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$1,961CA$2,720
-1.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$1,722CA$2,388
-39.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
$4,288CA$5,947
-3.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
$3,656CA$5,070
-53.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Hay River, NT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$4,281CA$5,937
-84.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
4.68
133.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Hay River, NT: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $1,169 in Hay River, NT. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 554% higher in Hay River, NT, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $66.0 in Hay River, NT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $355 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Hay River, NT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Hay River, NT?
Hay River, NT costs about 39% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Hay River, NT?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,462 per month in Medellin and $3,433 in Hay River, NT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Hay River, NT?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Hay River, NT?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,641 in Medellin and $2,289 in Hay River, NT. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Medellin compared to Hay River, NT?
Public transport costs about 22% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Medellin or in Hay River, NT?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Hay River, NT at $2,289. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hay River, NT it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Hay River, NT?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,641 versus $2,289 in Hay River, NT. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Medellin or to Hay River, NT?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hay River, NT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.