😐A single person spends $2,234 per month in Port Hedland vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,289 per month in Port Hedland vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,344 per month in Port Hedland vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Port Hedland costs about 117% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Port Hedland sits 67% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Hedland
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.27A$23.31
$6.16COP 20.1K
164.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.3A$114
$32.60COP 106.1K
143.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.65A$13.83
$7.34COP 23.9K
31.47%
Cappuccino
$3.46A$4.96
$1.72COP 5,600
101.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63A$3.77
$1.05COP 3,420
150.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12A$3.04
$0.77COP 2,515
175.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.68A$9.58
$1.69COP 5,488
295.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.99A$10.01
$3.17COP 10.3K
120.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Hedland
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42A$2.04
$1.05COP 3,423
35.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.43A$3.48
$1.30COP 4,236
86.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.03A$2.90
$1.40COP 4,544
45.00%
Eggs
$4.21A$6.03
$2.16COP 7,047
94.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.67A$12.42
$4.39COP 14.3K
97.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.24A$11.80
$5.88COP 19.1K
40.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.76A$19.71
$8.64COP 28.1K
59.26%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24A$4.65
$2.28COP 7,426
42.11%
Banana(1kg)
$2.85A$4.08
$1.11COP 3,604
156.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.87A$4.11
$1.53COP 4,983
87.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.17A$5.97
$1.35COP 4,410
208.89%
Potato(1kg)
$2.52A$3.62
$1.13COP 3,674
123.01%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20A$3.15
$1.13COP 3,692
94.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.07A$2.97
$0.85COP 2,753
143.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53A$2.19
$0.91COP 2,975
68.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$30.71A$43.99
$2.34COP 7,630
1212.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.87A$19.87
$12.37COP 40.3K
12.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.67A$6.69
$1.20COP 3,909
289.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.27A$7.55
$2.49COP 8,104
111.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Hedland
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.58A$3.70
$0.84COP 2,728
207.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.2A$94.8
$40.57COP 132.1K
63.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.68A$5.28
$1.42COP 4,623
159.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.55A$2.23
$1.92COP 6,235
-19.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.22A$49.03
$7.66COP 24.9K
346.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18A$1.69
$0.99COP 3,223
19.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9KA$41.4K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
60.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3KA$32.0K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-16.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Hedland
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$182A$261
$80.8COP 263.1K
125.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.33A$39.15
$9.95COP 32.4K
174.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.5A$75.2
$24.18COP 78.7K
117.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Hedland
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.49A$70.9
$25.08COP 81.7K
97.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.01A$22.93
$19.15COP 62.3K
-16.40%
Cinema Ticket
$12.76A$18.27
$3.98COP 13.0K
220.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Hedland
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,645A$2,357
$305COP 993.5K
439.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.3KA$17.6K
$6,059COP 19.7M
102.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Hedland
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.7A$95.6
$58.1COP 189.2K
14.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6A$72.4
$32.20COP 104.8K
57.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.2A$141
$101COP 327.9K
-2.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108A$155
$108COP 350.8K
0.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Hedland
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,246A$1,785
$477COP 1.6M
161.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,064A$1,524
$376COP 1.2M
182.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,002A$2,869
$845COP 2.7M
137.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,697A$2,432
$730COP 2.4M
132.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,256A$8,963
$3,215COP 10.5M
94.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,620A$8,052
$1,372COP 4.5M
309.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Hedland
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,219A$7,477
$617COP 2.0M
746.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
13.43
-52.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Port Hedland: July 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,246 in Port Hedland 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 746% higher in Port Hedland, 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 $79.0 in Port Hedland versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $338 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
Port Hedland vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Port Hedland?
Yes – Port Hedland is pricier by about 117%, 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 $3,351 per month in Port Hedland 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 Port Hedland or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Port Hedland and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Port Hedland and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,234 in Port Hedland and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Port Hedland or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Port Hedland at $2,234. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Hedland it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Port Hedland 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, Port Hedland 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, Port Hedland makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Port Hedland vs other spots: cost of living compared