Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tegucigalpa Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tegucigalpa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $897 in Tegucigalpa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,437 in Tegucigalpa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,977 in Tegucigalpa, rent included.

Medellin costs about 15% more than Tegucigalpa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Tegucigalpa are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Tegucigalpa 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Tegucigalpa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$5.89 HNL 157
4.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$37.29 HNL 997
-12.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$7.75 HNL 207
-5.29%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$2.30 HNL 61.4
-25.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$1.02 HNL 27.22
2.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$1.17 HNL 31.16
-34.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$1.12 HNL 29.93
50.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$2.65 HNL 70.7
19.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Tegucigalpa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$1.43 HNL 38.36
-26.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$2.09 HNL 55.8
-37.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$1.24 HNL 33.09
12.90%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$2.10 HNL 56.1
2.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$6.02 HNL 161
-27.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$3.74 HNL 100
57.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$8.13 HNL 217
6.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$2.95 HNL 78.9
-22.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$1.46 HNL 39.01
-23.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$1.50 HNL 40.09
2.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$1.51 HNL 40.37
-10.60%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$1.66 HNL 44.38
-31.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$1.40 HNL 37.56
-19.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$0.82 HNL 21.85
3.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$1.70 HNL 45.48
-46.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$2.46 HNL 65.8
-4.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$9.28 HNL 248
33.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$1.33 HNL 35.60
-9.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$1.84 HNL 49.12
35.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Tegucigalpa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$1.57 HNL 41.85
-46.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$4.15 HNL 111
-65.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$3.10 HNL 82.8
-38.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$1.06 HNL 28.39
-6.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$18.9K HNL 504.4K
-4.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$18.9K HNL 505.2K
40.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Tegucigalpa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$80.8 HNL 2,159
0.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$8.97 HNL 240
10.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$40.78 HNL 1,090
-40.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Tegucigalpa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$36.58 HNL 978
-31.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$15.53 HNL 415
23.31%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$5.63 HNL 151
-29.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Tegucigalpa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$249 HNL 6,650
22.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Tegucigalpa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$46.74 HNL 1,250
24.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$35.17 HNL 940
-8.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$111 HNL 2,967
-9.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$102 HNL 2,728
5.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Tegucigalpa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$287 HNL 7,676
66.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$233 HNL 6,216
61.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$580 HNL 15.5K
45.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$460 HNL 12.3K
58.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$2,680 HNL 71.7K
19.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$1,590 HNL 42.5K
-13.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Tegucigalpa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$518 HNL 13.9K
19.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
12
11.92%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Tegucigalpa: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $287 in Tegucigalpa. 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 19% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $37.00 in Tegucigalpa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $207 – making Medellin 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 Tegucigalpa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tegucigalpa cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,345 in Tegucigalpa. 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 Tegucigalpa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Tegucigalpa?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $37.00 in Tegucigalpa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Tegucigalpa?
Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Tegucigalpa?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tegucigalpa, where all-in costs run around $897, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Tegucigalpa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Tegucigalpa more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tegucigalpa – 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 Tegucigalpa. 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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