πA single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $369 in Hetauda, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $588 in Hetauda, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $807 in Hetauda, rent included.
πMedellin costs about 175% more than Hetauda, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth Medellin and Hetauda are more affordable than the global median β Medellin24% lower, Hetauda72% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Hetauda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$1.85NPRΒ 281
223.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.4K
$14.84NPRΒ 2,259
121.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$6.52NPRΒ 992
8.74%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,115
$1.32NPRΒ 200
29.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,924
$0.45NPRΒ 68.1
144.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,781
$0.17NPRΒ 26.31
358.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,997
$2.53NPRΒ 386
-33.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
$3.55NPRΒ 540
-13.52%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Hetauda
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,906
$0.73NPRΒ 112
49.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,508
$0.55NPRΒ 83.9
129.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,922
$0.78NPRΒ 119
76.92%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,827
$1.70NPRΒ 259
28.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$6.72NPRΒ 1,023
-34.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
$3.18NPRΒ 484
77.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.8K
$3.25NPRΒ 495
173.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,349
$2.28NPRΒ 347
2.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,777
$0.99NPRΒ 150
7.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,374
$0.89NPRΒ 135
68.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,924
$0.68NPRΒ 104
102.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,111
$0.39NPRΒ 59.3
194.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,155
$0.61NPRΒ 92.2
90.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,182
$0.49NPRΒ 73.9
81.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,997
$0.18NPRΒ 26.89
366.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,145
$2.62NPRΒ 398
-12.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 38.0K
$8.07NPRΒ 1,228
31.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,284
$2.28NPRΒ 347
-47.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,824
$3.36NPRΒ 511
-26.49%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Hetauda
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,056
$0.45NPRΒ 69.2
91.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.9K
$11.22NPRΒ 1,707
268.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,264
$2.22NPRΒ 338
-33.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 7,009
$0.52NPRΒ 79.7
276.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
$2.93NPRΒ 446
164.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,409
$1.17NPRΒ 178
-18.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.7M
$31.7KNPRΒ 4.8M
-42.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.6M
$40.1KNPRΒ 6.1M
-33.88%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Hetauda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.7K
$20.12NPRΒ 3,063
308.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
$4.75NPRΒ 722
100.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.5K
$8.34NPRΒ 1,270
190.53%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Hetauda
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.4K
$9.05NPRΒ 1,378
186.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.9K
$2.92NPRΒ 445
550.68%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$2.13NPRΒ 325
84.51%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Hetauda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$26.61NPRΒ 4,051
1062.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
$1,291NPRΒ 196.6K
361.94%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Hetauda
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.5K
$24.66NPRΒ 3,754
137.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.5K
$26.27NPRΒ 3,999
23.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 366.4K
$58.9NPRΒ 8,968
74.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 387.2K
$20.43NPRΒ 3,110
430.74%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Hetauda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$69.1NPRΒ 10.5K
589.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$36.45NPRΒ 5,548
939.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$136NPRΒ 20.7K
515.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$76.0NPRΒ 11.6K
852.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Hetauda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
$214NPRΒ 32.5K
139.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
5.5
144.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Hetauda: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $69.1 in Hetauda. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 140% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $15.00 in Hetauda. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $134 β making Hetauda 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 Hetauda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and Hetauda compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,013 in Medellin, $369 in Hetauda β roughly 175% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Hetauda?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $553 in Hetauda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Hetauda?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hetauda, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Hetauda?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $369 in Hetauda. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and Hetauda?
Public transport costs about 269% less in Hetauda. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hetauda, where all-in costs run around $369, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Hetauda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Hetauda?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $369 in Hetauda to $1,013 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Medellin and Hetauda?
If budget matters most, go with Hetauda. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.