Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Hedland and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Hedland and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,269 per month in Port Hedland vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,299 per month in Port Hedland vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,330 per month in Port Hedland vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Port Hedland costs about 124% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Port Hedland sits 69% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Hedland
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.09 A$22.42
$5.99 COP 21.4K
168.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5 A$111
$32.86 COP 117.4K
141.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.62 A$13.40
$7.09 COP 25.3K
35.68%
Cappuccino
$3.33 A$4.64
$1.71 COP 6,115
94.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 A$3.55
$1.10 COP 3,924
130.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 A$2.92
$0.78 COP 2,781
167.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.39 A$8.91
$1.68 COP 5,997
280.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.02 A$9.78
$3.07 COP 11.0K
128.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Hedland
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 A$2.01
$1.09 COP 3,906
32.11%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 A$3.29
$1.26 COP 4,508
87.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.00 A$2.79
$1.38 COP 4,922
44.93%
Eggs
$4.26 A$5.94
$2.19 COP 7,827
94.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.59 A$11.96
$4.40 COP 15.7K
95.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.53 A$11.89
$5.63 COP 20.1K
51.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.88 A$19.34
$8.89 COP 31.8K
56.13%
Apples (1kg)
$3.21 A$4.47
$2.34 COP 8,349
37.18%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 A$3.83
$1.06 COP 3,777
159.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.91 A$4.05
$1.50 COP 5,374
94.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.23 A$5.89
$1.38 COP 4,924
206.52%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 A$3.53
$1.15 COP 4,111
120.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 A$2.93
$1.16 COP 4,155
81.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.18 A$3.03
$0.89 COP 3,182
144.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 A$2.12
$0.84 COP 2,997
80.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$31.49 A$43.88
$2.28 COP 8,145
1281.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.46 A$18.76
$10.64 COP 38.0K
26.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.62 A$6.44
$1.20 COP 4,284
285.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.32 A$7.42
$2.47 COP 8,824
115.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Hedland
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.52 A$3.52
$0.86 COP 3,056
193.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.2 A$92.2
$41.40 COP 147.9K
59.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.61 A$5.03
$1.47 COP 5,264
145.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 A$2.18
$1.96 COP 7,009
-20.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.15 A$46.19
$7.74 COP 27.6K
328.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 A$1.66
$0.95 COP 3,409
25.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K A$40.9K
$18.1K COP 64.7M
62.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K A$31.2K
$26.5K COP 94.6M
-15.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Hedland
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 A$260
$82.3 COP 293.7K
126.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.36 A$38.13
$9.50 COP 33.9K
188.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 A$74.7
$24.23 COP 86.5K
121.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Hedland
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.23 A$68.6
$25.89 COP 92.4K
90.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.76 A$21.95
$19.00 COP 67.9K
-17.05%
Cinema Ticket
$13.26 A$18.48
$3.93 COP 14.0K
237.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Hedland
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,635 A$2,279
$309 COP 1.1M
428.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.0K A$16.8K
$5,965 COP 21.3M
101.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Hedland
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.5 A$95.4
$58.7 COP 209.5K
16.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1 A$71.2
$32.35 COP 115.5K
57.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 A$140
$103 COP 366.4K
-1.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 A$148
$108 COP 387.2K
-1.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Hedland
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,269 A$1,769
$476 COP 1.7M
166.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 A$1,461
$379 COP 1.4M
176.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,045 A$2,849
$838 COP 3.0M
143.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,671 A$2,328
$724 COP 2.6M
130.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,508 A$7,675
$2,791 COP 10.0M
97.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,834 A$8,130
$1,211 COP 4.3M
381.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Hedland
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,256 A$7,325
$512 COP 1.8M
927.06%
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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,269 in Port Hedland versus $476 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 927% 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 $188 – 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 124%, 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 $3,403 per month in Port Hedland and $1,519 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 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 vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,269 in Port Hedland and $1,013 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 Port Hedland or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Port Hedland at $2,269. 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.

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