Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ho Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ho

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $345 in Ho.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $554 in Ho.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $764 in Ho.

Living in Medellin is roughly 191% more expensive than in Ho, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 25% lower, Ho 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.9K

$3.00 GHS 35.03

97.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 105.2K

$10.00 GHS 117

229.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.7K

$3.86 GHS 45.04

92.49%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,276

$1.43 GHS 16.66

15.38%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,514

$0.51 GHS 5.96

115.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,491

$0.30 GHS 3.53

160.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,484

$0.47 GHS 5.46

265.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.1K

$0.80 GHS 9.30

297.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,521

$1.16 GHS 13.50

-5.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,015

$0.51 GHS 5.92

147.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,407

$0.75 GHS 8.70

84.00%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,950

$2.29 GHS 26.78

-4.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.3K

$10.92 GHS 128

-58.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.5K

$4.26 GHS 49.75

35.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.6K

$5.40 GHS 63.0

66.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,405

$2.12 GHS 24.78

9.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,397

$1.01 GHS 11.85

4.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,838

$0.93 GHS 10.91

63.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,327

$0.93 GHS 10.81

46.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,599

$1.91 GHS 22.32

-40.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,738

$1.02 GHS 11.89

14.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,876

$0.28 GHS 3.25

221.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,861

$0.48 GHS 5.57

87.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,128

$1.58 GHS 18.47

41.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.7K

$7.14 GHS 83.4

69.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,793

$0.56 GHS 6.49

112.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,920

$1.14 GHS 13.33

117.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,723

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,518

$1.59 GHS 18.63

-10.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,223

$1.20 GHS 14.06

62.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.2K

$5.47 GHS 63.9

44.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,160

$0.98 GHS 11.47

1.02%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 56.2M

$5,792 GHS 67.6K

203.91%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K COP 85.5M

$7,771 GHS 90.8K

244.86%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.0 COP 264.9K

$23.97 GHS 280

246.31%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.70 COP 30.9K

$13.01 GHS 152

-25.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 75.0K

$14.69 GHS 172

60.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.6K

$9.44 GHS 110

-58.16%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$316 COP 1.0M

$71.5 GHS 835

341.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.1M

$8,026 GHS 93.7K

-25.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 191.4K

$14.74 GHS 172

307.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 101.5K

$18.68 GHS 218

70.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 324.4K

$28.66 GHS 335

254.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 342.8K

$42.10 GHS 492

155.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

25.4

-47.13%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ho: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $10.00 in Ho for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $158 per month, with Ho 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 Ho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin and Ho differ by about 191% in total monthly costs ($1,003 vs $345 including rent). Ho is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,504 in Medellin and $518 in Ho to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Childcare runs $316 in Medellin versus $71.5 in Ho. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ho – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $345 in Ho versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ho but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Ho the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Ho are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ho gentler on the wallet – expenses run 191% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.