😐A single person spends $2,814 per month in The Hague vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,239 per month in The Hague vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,664 per month in The Hague vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.
😐The Hague costs about 64% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both The Hague and Medellin sit above the global median – The Hague by 105%, Medellin by 25%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.07€19.83
$8.03COP 25.2K
187.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.7€78.9
$48.26COP 151.7K
90.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.46€13.29
$9.77COP 30.7K
58.24%
Cappuccino
$4.68€4.02
$2.91COP 9,149
60.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30€3.70
$1.94COP 6,110
121.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35€3.74
$1.52COP 4,783
186.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.81€5.85
$3.09COP 9,721
120.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.72€6.64
$5.74COP 18.1K
34.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.57€1.35
$1.36COP 4,287
15.44%
White Bread(500g)
$2.28€1.96
$2.39COP 7,505
-4.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.71€2.33
$1.70COP 5,346
59.41%
Eggs
$4.64€3.99
$2.87COP 9,021
61.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.93€12.83
$9.94COP 31.2K
50.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.43€11.55
$10.78COP 33.9K
24.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.16€17.33
$14.73COP 46.3K
36.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76€2.38
$4.09COP 12.8K
-32.52%
Banana(1kg)
$2.30€1.98
$1.57COP 4,940
46.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.06€1.77
$2.13COP 6,682
-3.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.80€3.27
$2.21COP 6,959
71.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37€1.18
$2.05COP 6,435
-33.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.33€1.14
$1.50COP 4,728
-11.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21€1.04
$1.19COP 3,740
1.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94€0.81
$1.16COP 3,640
-18.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.30€13.15
$3.90COP 12.2K
292.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.93€5.10
$14.44COP 45.4K
-58.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$1.58COP 4,978
-15.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01€1.73
$2.83COP 8,889
-28.98%
🚌 Getting Around
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.54€3.90
$1.17COP 3,672
288.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$97.0€83.4
$77.7COP 244.3K
24.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.76€4.10
$1.28COP 4,038
271.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.60€3.10
$2.09COP 6,576
72.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.16€30.23
$8.62COP 27.1K
307.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.61€2.25
$1.30COP 4,080
100.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.6K€37.5K
$27.7KCOP 86.9M
57.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.8K€35.1K
$35.5KCOP 111.6M
14.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$292€251
$176COP 553.4K
65.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.38€25.25
$13.37COP 42.0K
119.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.3€48.37
$29.89COP 94.0K
88.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1€44.76
$44.76COP 140.7K
16.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.49€21.92
$17.06COP 53.6K
49.41%
Cinema Ticket
$17.20€14.79
$6.20COP 19.5K
177.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,541€2,184
$793COP 2.5M
220.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.2K€10.4K
$9,019COP 28.4M
34.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.6€85.6
$85.6COP 269.1K
16.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.25€38.91
$58.5COP 183.8K
-22.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110€94.9
$136COP 428.4K
-19.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140€121
$103COP 324.1K
36.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,719€1,478
$1,060COP 3.3M
62.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,335€1,148
$680COP 2.1M
96.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,886€2,481
$2,012COP 6.3M
43.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,388€2,053
$1,169COP 3.7M
104.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,429€5,527
$4,111COP 12.9M
56.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,581€3,938
$1,701COP 5.3M
169.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,373€3,760
$665COP 2.1M
557.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.4
10.94
-68.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for The Hague: August 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,719 in The Hague versus $1,060 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 557% higher in The Hague, 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 $92.0 in The Hague versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $341 vs $303 – 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
The Hague vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than The Hague?
Yes – The Hague is pricier by about 64%, 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 $4,221 per month in The Hague and $2,574 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 The Hague or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $92.0 in The Hague and $48.00 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 The Hague and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,814 in The Hague and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in The Hague or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in The Hague at $2,814. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in The Hague it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is The Hague 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, The Hague 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, The Hague makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.