Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Heist-op-den-Berg

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,614 a month against $2,141 in Heist-op-den-Berg, rent and utilities included – about $6,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Heist-op-den-Berg
🇧🇪 Belgium
$2,141
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Heist-op-den-Berg

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Heist-op-den-Berg actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,614 per month in Medellin vs $2,141 in Heist-op-den-Berg, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,614
  • Heist-op-den-Berg $2,141

A couple spends around $2,402 per month in Medellin vs $3,045 in Heist-op-den-Berg, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,402
  • Heist-op-den-Berg $3,045

A family of three spends $3,190 per month in Medellin vs $3,950 in Heist-op-den-Berg, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,190
  • Heist-op-den-Berg $3,950

Medellin is about 25% cheaper than Heist-op-den-Berg, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Medellin and Heist-op-den-Berg sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Heist-op-den-Berg by 59%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Heist-op-den-Berg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.93 COP 25.3K
$23.60 €21.09
-66.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.13 COP 147.1K
$97.9 €87.5
-52.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.3K
$12.01 €10.73
-20.90%
Cappuccino
$3.11 COP 9,920
$4.29 €3.84
-27.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 COP 5,832
$3.36 €3.00
-45.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,384
$2.61 €2.33
-47.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 COP 9,725
$4.53 €4.05
-32.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50 COP 17.5K
$4.30 €3.84
27.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Heist-op-den-Berg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 COP 4,625
$1.07 €0.96
35.51%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 COP 7,537
$2.42 €2.17
-2.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 COP 5,358
$1.88 €1.68
-10.64%
Eggs
$2.86 COP 9,127
$4.16 €3.72
-31.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.5K
$18.25 €16.30
-44.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 COP 30.4K
$11.11 €9.93
-14.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 COP 44.8K
$21.34 €19.07
-34.21%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 COP 13.0K
$2.92 €2.61
39.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,768
$2.60 €2.32
-42.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 COP 6,929
$2.56 €2.29
-15.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 COP 7,350
$2.66 €2.38
-13.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 COP 6,147
$2.38 €2.13
-18.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 COP 5,224
$1.90 €1.69
-13.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 COP 3,590
$1.50 €1.34
-24.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,976
$1.16 €1.03
7.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 COP 12.7K
$12.38 €11.06
-67.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 COP 42.6K
$8.49 €7.58
57.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 COP 5,413
$2.17 €1.94
-21.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 7,566
$2.00 €1.78
18.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Heist-op-den-Berg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 COP 3,848
$2.77 €2.47
-56.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.5 COP 243.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 COP 4,202
$4.95 €4.43
-73.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 COP 6,811
$2.34 €2.09
-8.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.47 COP 27.0K
$22.67 €20.26
-62.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,137
$1.94 €1.74
-32.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K COP 89.2M
$38.4K €34.3K
-27.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 112.9M
$35.4K €31.7K
-0.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Heist-op-den-Berg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 COP 548.6K
$202 €181
-14.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.6K
$24.25 €21.67
-44.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.73 COP 91.6K
$55.3 €49.40
-48.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Heist-op-den-Berg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.24 COP 144.2K
$30.84 €27.56
46.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04 COP 54.3K
$20.25 €18.09
-15.85%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 COP 20.0K
$14.63 €13.07
-57.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Heist-op-den-Berg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$770 COP 2.5M
$960 €858
-19.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,011 COP 28.7M
$19.0K €17.0K
-52.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Heist-op-den-Berg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 COP 275.5K
$103 €92.2
-16.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 COP 182.1K
$45.83 €40.95
24.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 435.3K
$106 €95.1
28.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 312.1K
$166 €148
-40.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Heist-op-den-Berg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 COP 3.4M
$833 €744
26.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 COP 2.0M
$900 €805
-31.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 COP 6.0M
$1,449 €1,295
30.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 COP 3.3M
$1,030 €921
-0.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,059 COP 12.9M
$4,661 €4,165
-12.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,678 COP 5.4M
$3,268 €2,920
-48.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Heist-op-den-Berg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.46
216.18%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Last update for Heist-op-den-Berg: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$616
Heist-op-den-Berg
$900 46.2% $285
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$295
Heist-op-den-Berg
$350 18.7% $55
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$214
Heist-op-den-Berg
$282 31.5% $67
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$170
Heist-op-den-Berg
$190 11.4% $19
Eating Out
Medellin
$168
Heist-op-den-Berg
$331 96.9% $163
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Heist-op-den-Berg
$28 * 70.3% $66
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Heist-op-den-Berg
$60 4% $2.3

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,055 in Medellin versus $833 in Heist-op-den-Berg. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Medellin versus $98.0 in Heist-op-den-Berg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $350 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇧🇪 Heist-op-den-Berg
🕒 Local time
21:51 9:51 PM
04:51 4:51 AM
7 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
41,365
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 3,188 COP (10,000 COP = 3.14 USD). 1 EUR = 3,568 COP (10,000 COP = 2.8 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 0.894 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Heist-op-den-Berg 8,790 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Heist-op-den-Berg

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Heist-op-den-Berg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Heist-op-den-Berg cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Heist-op-den-Berg is pricier by about 33%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,421 per month in Medellin and $3,211 in Heist-op-den-Berg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Heist-op-den-Berg?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,614 in Medellin and $2,141 in Heist-op-den-Berg. That's a gap of about 33%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $770 per month in Medellin and $960 in Heist-op-den-Berg. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Heist-op-den-Berg?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,614, than in Heist-op-den-Berg at $2,141. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Heist-op-den-Berg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Heist-op-den-Berg more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Heist-op-den-Berg?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Heist-op-den-Berg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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