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: $1,017 in Medellin versus $345 in Ho.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $562 in Ho.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $780 in Ho.

Living in Medellin is roughly 195% more expensive than Ho, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Ho 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$2.94 GHS 32.34

102.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$9.87 GHS 109

237.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$3.97 GHS 43.70

82.12%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$1.48 GHS 16.29

10.14%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.50 GHS 5.50

118.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.30 GHS 3.31

143.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$0.47 GHS 5.19

270.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$0.79 GHS 8.73

308.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.15 GHS 12.63

-8.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.51 GHS 5.60

152.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$0.76 GHS 8.41

73.68%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.38 GHS 26.23

-4.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$10.99 GHS 121

-60.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$4.26 GHS 46.91

38.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$5.28 GHS 58.1

63.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.18 GHS 23.97

3.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$0.95 GHS 10.46

12.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$0.93 GHS 10.18

63.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$0.99 GHS 10.94

43.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.99 GHS 21.85

-41.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.92 GHS 10.15

27.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.28 GHS 3.05

217.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.50 GHS 5.52

80.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$1.57 GHS 17.31

43.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$7.07 GHS 77.7

56.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$0.56 GHS 6.17

103.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$1.16 GHS 12.73

105.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$1.55 GHS 17.08

-9.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$1.16 GHS 12.75

63.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$5.47 GHS 60.1

41.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.94 GHS 10.39

7.45%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$5,906 GHS 65.0K

197.67%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$7,919 GHS 87.1K

234.55%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$24.51 GHS 270

241.41%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$13.01 GHS 143

-27.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$14.55 GHS 160

65.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$9.52 GHS 105

-56.93%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$73.5 GHS 809

324.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$7,960 GHS 87.6K

-24.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$14.77 GHS 162

292.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$18.81 GHS 207

73.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$29.52 GHS 325

237.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$41.79 GHS 460

159.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Ho: June 7, 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 $190 vs $159 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 195% in total monthly costs ($1,017 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 $1,525 in Medellin and $517 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 $312 in Medellin versus $73.5 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 $1,017 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 195% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.