🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $2,322 in Hazelton.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $3,403 in Hazelton.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $4,484 in Hazelton.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 56% less than in Hazelton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Hazelton is 74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Hazelton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$16.87CA$23.73
-63.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$71.3CA$100
-54.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$11.09CA$15.61
-33.81%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$3.80CA$5.34
-54.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$2.07CA$2.91
-49.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$1.70CA$2.40
-54.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$5.48CA$7.72
-69.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$5.81CA$8.18
-45.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Hazelton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$2.12CA$2.98
-50.47%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$2.68CA$3.77
-51.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$3.53CA$4.97
-60.34%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$3.42CA$4.81
-36.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$11.37CA$16.00
-61.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$11.70CA$16.46
-49.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$14.61CA$20.55
-40.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$3.97CA$5.58
-42.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$1.36CA$1.91
-18.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$3.64CA$5.12
-57.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$3.83CA$5.39
-64.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$2.52CA$3.54
-55.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$2.48CA$3.49
-54.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$2.56CA$3.60
-66.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$1.77CA$2.49
-48.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$13.72CA$19.31
-82.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$12.56CA$17.68
-1.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$2.94CA$4.14
-59.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$3.07CA$4.32
-18.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Hazelton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$2.34CA$3.29
-64.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$61.7CA$86.8
-34.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$3.11CA$4.38
-54.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$1.50CA$2.11
28.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$25.67CA$36.11
-70.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$1.11CA$1.56
-10.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$25.5KCA$35.8K
-29.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$20.5KCA$28.8K
30.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Hazelton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$142CA$200
-43.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$43.73CA$61.5
-77.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$63.6CA$89.5
-61.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Hazelton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$41.58CA$58.5
-39.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$11.36CA$15.98
-64.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Hazelton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$729CA$1,026
-58.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$11.7KCA$16.4K
-48.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Hazelton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$53.9CA$75.9
7.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$40.35CA$56.8
-20.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$86.7CA$122
16.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$105CA$148
2.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Hazelton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$1,335CA$1,879
-64.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$1,160CA$1,632
-67.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$1,996CA$2,809
-57.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$1,830CA$2,574
-60.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$4,534CA$6,380
-29.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$3,184CA$4,480
-56.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Hazelton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$2,089CA$2,939
-70.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.46
107.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Hazelton: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $1,335 in Hazelton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hazelton pays 239% 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 $71.0 in Hazelton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $364 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 Hazelton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Hazelton?
Medellin and Hazelton differ by about 125% in total monthly costs ($1,031 vs $2,322 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 239% lower in Hazelton. 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 Hazelton?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Medellin versus $1,335 in Hazelton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Hazelton?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 52% less than in Hazelton. 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 Hazelton?
Childcare runs $305 in Medellin versus $729 in Hazelton. 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 $1,031 in Medellin versus $2,322 in Hazelton, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Hazelton. 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 Hazelton?
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.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Hazelton?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 125% less than in Hazelton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.