😐A single person spends $1,105 per month in Miguel Hidalgo vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,906 per month in Miguel Hidalgo vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,707 per month in Miguel Hidalgo vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Miguel Hidalgo costs about 7% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Miguel Hidalgo and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Miguel Hidalgo17% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Miguel Hidalgo
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.73MX$188
$6.16COP 20.1K
74.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.1MX$1,440
$32.60COP 106.1K
151.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.96MX$140
$7.34COP 23.9K
8.45%
Cappuccino
$3.29MX$57.6
$1.72COP 5,600
91.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24MX$21.68
$1.05COP 3,420
18.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99MX$17.28
$0.77COP 2,515
28.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.31MX$40.51
$1.69COP 5,488
36.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.96MX$105
$3.17COP 10.3K
88.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Miguel Hidalgo
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.48MX$26.01
$1.05COP 3,423
40.95%
White Bread(500g)
$2.65MX$46.40
$1.30COP 4,236
103.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$27.44
$1.40COP 4,544
11.43%
Eggs
$2.31MX$40.60
$2.16COP 7,047
6.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.81MX$137
$4.39COP 14.3K
77.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.84MX$155
$5.88COP 19.1K
50.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.49MX$184
$8.64COP 28.1K
21.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.56MX$44.97
$2.28COP 7,426
12.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40MX$24.61
$1.11COP 3,604
26.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.76MX$30.88
$1.53COP 4,983
15.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.73
$1.35COP 4,410
21.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.82MX$32.01
$1.13COP 3,674
61.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.93MX$33.77
$1.13COP 3,692
70.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.25MX$21.96
$0.85COP 2,753
47.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02MX$17.95
$0.91COP 2,975
12.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16MX$72.9
$2.34COP 7,630
77.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.67MX$187
$12.37COP 40.3K
-13.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60MX$28.01
$1.20COP 3,909
33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85MX$50.0
$2.49COP 8,104
14.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Miguel Hidalgo
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.66MX$11.57
$0.84COP 2,728
-21.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$40.57COP 132.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.65MX$46.55
$1.42COP 4,623
86.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58MX$27.73
$1.92COP 6,235
-17.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.45MX$148
$7.66COP 24.9K
10.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$22.39
$0.99COP 3,223
29.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5KMX$377.1K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
19.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5KMX$395.5K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-15.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Miguel Hidalgo
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$30.26MX$531
$80.8COP 263.1K
-62.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.26MX$390
$9.95COP 32.4K
123.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.35MX$532
$24.18COP 78.7K
25.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Miguel Hidalgo
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.75MX$802
$25.08COP 81.7K
82.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.74MX$276
$19.15COP 62.3K
-17.81%
Cinema Ticket
$4.53MX$79.4
$3.98COP 13.0K
13.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Miguel Hidalgo
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$207MX$3,626
$305COP 993.5K
-32.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,620MX$63.5K
$6,059COP 19.7M
-40.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Miguel Hidalgo
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.3MX$1,269
$58.1COP 189.2K
24.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.31MX$707
$32.20COP 104.8K
25.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.4MX$1,586
$101COP 327.9K
-10.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.0MX$1,368
$108COP 350.8K
-27.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Miguel Hidalgo
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$515MX$9,035
$477COP 1.6M
8.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$403MX$7,064
$376COP 1.2M
7.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$915MX$16.1K
$845COP 2.7M
8.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$755MX$13.2K
$730COP 2.4M
3.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,860MX$32.6K
$3,215COP 10.5M
-42.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,240MX$21.7K
$1,372COP 4.5M
-9.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Miguel Hidalgo
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$559MX$9,813
$617COP 2.0M
-9.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.48
13.43
-14.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Miguel Hidalgo: July 11, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $515 in Miguel Hidalgo versus $477 in Medellin. 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 10% higher in Medellin, 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 $82.0 in Miguel Hidalgo versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $254 vs $193 – 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
Miguel Hidalgo vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Miguel Hidalgo?
Yes – Miguel Hidalgo is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,657 per month in Miguel Hidalgo and $1,546 in Medellin. 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 Medellin, 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 Miguel Hidalgo or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Miguel Hidalgo and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Miguel Hidalgo and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 32% more in Miguel Hidalgo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Miguel Hidalgo or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Miguel Hidalgo at $1,105. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Miguel Hidalgo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Miguel Hidalgo or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Miguel Hidalgo or Medellin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Miguel Hidalgo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Miguel Hidalgo vs other spots: cost of living compared