Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Humacao Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Humacao

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,546 in Humacao, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $2,524 in Humacao, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $3,501 in Humacao, rent included.

Medellin costs about 9% more than Humacao, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Medellin and Humacao sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Humacao by 13%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Humacao
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.4K
$12.18 $12.18
-34.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 152.0K
$45.58 $45.58
5.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 31.4K
$9.09 $9.09
8.80%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,937
$3.66 $3.66
-14.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 6,058
$1.77 $1.77
7.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,794
$1.26 $1.26
19.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,917
$2.29 $2.29
36.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.3K
$3.03 $3.03
89.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Humacao
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,587
$2.25 $2.25
-36.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,894
$2.96 $2.96
-15.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,631
$1.61 $1.61
9.94%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,396
$7.21 $7.21
-58.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 32.0K
$12.50 $12.50
-19.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 32.1K
$6.64 $6.64
52.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 45.4K
$13.30 $13.30
7.52%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 13.1K
$3.07 $3.07
34.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,106
$2.34 $2.34
-31.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,129
$3.69 $3.69
-39.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,150
$4.47 $4.47
-49.66%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,486
$2.93 $2.93
-30.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,873
$2.85 $2.85
-45.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,715
$3.33 $3.33
-64.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,148
$0.95 $0.95
37.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.4K
$11.45 $11.45
-65.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 44.5K
$9.95 $9.95
40.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,534
$1.20 $1.20
45.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 9,112
$3.28 $3.28
-12.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Humacao
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,858
$0.98 $0.98
24.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 255.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,155
$2.45 $2.45
-46.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,944
$1.53 $1.53
43.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.7K
$42.35 $42.35
-79.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,334
$0.88 $0.88
55.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 88.4M
$20.3K $20.3K
36.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 113.6M
$25.0K $25.0K
43.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Humacao
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 562.9K
$322 $322
-45.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 44.1K
$69.0 $69.0
-79.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 94.4K
$68.8 $68.8
-56.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Humacao
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 142.5K
$30.48 $30.48
47.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 54.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 21.1K
$7.31 $7.31
-9.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Humacao
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.6M
$829 $829
-1.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 29.2M
$10.6K $10.6K
-13.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Humacao
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 284.1K
$57.2 $57.2
56.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 187.2K
$60.2 $60.2
-2.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 438.8K
$102 $102
35.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 324.2K
$80.9 $80.9
26.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Humacao
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.4M
$573 $573
85.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
$385 $385
72.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 6.0M
$1,551 $1,551
21.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.3M
$1,153 $1,153
-10.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.3M
$3,840 $3,840
8.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.3M
$1,583 $1,583
5.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Humacao
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.2M
$2,048 $2,048
-66.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6.55
67.02%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Humacao: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $573 in Humacao. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 202% higher in Humacao, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $46.00 in Humacao. Groceries tell a different story – $305 in Medellin vs $336 in Humacao – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Humacao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Humacao cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $2,319 in Humacao. 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 Humacao, 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 Humacao?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $1,546 in Humacao. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $813 per month in Medellin and $829 in Humacao. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Humacao?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Humacao, where all-in costs run around $1,546, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Humacao it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Humacao more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Humacao – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Humacao. 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.

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