Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Hopkins Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Hopkins

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $158 in Hopkins, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $258 in Hopkins, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $357 in Hopkins, rent included.

Medellin costs about 936% more than Hopkins, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Hopkins is 89% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.04 COP 24.8K

$13.68 BZD 27.37

-41.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.29 COP 149.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 COP 29.1K

Cappuccino

$2.94 COP 9,070

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

$1.86 COP 5,754

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 COP 4,494

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 COP 9,915

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.71 COP 17.6K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,443

White Bread (500g)

$2.40 COP 7,413

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,245

Eggs

$2.89 COP 8,925

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.06 COP 31.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.97 COP 30.8K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.20 COP 43.9K

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 COP 12.3K

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 COP 4,894

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 COP 6,646

Tomato (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,101

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 COP 6,189

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,661

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 COP 3,713

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 COP 3,959

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 COP 11.8K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 COP 5,273

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 COP 8,468

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.25 COP 3,847

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 COP 240.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,030

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.17 COP 6,702

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.29 COP 25.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,186

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

$27.5K COP 84.8M

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

$36.5K COP 112.8M

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

$169 COP 521.0K

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

$13.57 COP 41.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.32 COP 87.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.71 COP 141.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 COP 53.2K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.5K

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

$803 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,190 COP 28.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.4 COP 269.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.4 COP 183.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 COP 428.9K

$117 BZD 235

18.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 315.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,071 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 COP 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,925 COP 5.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 COP 12.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$655 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Hopkins: September 7, 2026

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 Hopkins: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 936%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,462 per month in Medellin and $238 in Hopkins. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Hopkins, where all-in costs run around $158, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Hopkins it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Hopkins – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Hopkins. 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.