Cost of Living Comparison Between The Hague and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between The Hague and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$8.03 COP 25.2K
187.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.7 €78.9
$48.26 COP 151.7K
90.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.46 €13.29
$9.77 COP 30.7K
58.24%
Cappuccino
$4.68 €4.02
$2.91 COP 9,149
60.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 €3.70
$1.94 COP 6,110
121.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35 €3.74
$1.52 COP 4,783
186.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.81 €5.85
$3.09 COP 9,721
120.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.72 €6.64
$5.74 COP 18.1K
34.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 €1.35
$1.36 COP 4,287
15.44%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 €1.96
$2.39 COP 7,505
-4.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.71 €2.33
$1.70 COP 5,346
59.41%
Eggs
$4.64 €3.99
$2.87 COP 9,021
61.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.93 €12.83
$9.94 COP 31.2K
50.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.43 €11.55
$10.78 COP 33.9K
24.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.16 €17.33
$14.73 COP 46.3K
36.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 €2.38
$4.09 COP 12.8K
-32.52%
Banana (1kg)
$2.30 €1.98
$1.57 COP 4,940
46.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.06 €1.77
$2.13 COP 6,682
-3.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.80 €3.27
$2.21 COP 6,959
71.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.37 €1.18
$2.05 COP 6,435
-33.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 €1.14
$1.50 COP 4,728
-11.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.21 €1.04
$1.19 COP 3,740
1.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 €0.81
$1.16 COP 3,640
-18.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.30 €13.15
$3.90 COP 12.2K
292.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.93 €5.10
$14.44 COP 45.4K
-58.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.15
$1.58 COP 4,978
-15.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 €1.73
$2.83 COP 8,889
-28.98%
🚌 Getting Around
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.54 €3.90
$1.17 COP 3,672
288.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$97.0 €83.4
$77.7 COP 244.3K
24.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 €4.10
$1.28 COP 4,038
271.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.60 €3.10
$2.09 COP 6,576
72.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.16 €30.23
$8.62 COP 27.1K
307.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.61 €2.25
$1.30 COP 4,080
100.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.6K €37.5K
$27.7K COP 86.9M
57.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.8K €35.1K
$35.5K COP 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
$176 COP 553.4K
65.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.38 €25.25
$13.37 COP 42.0K
119.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.3 €48.37
$29.89 COP 94.0K
88.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 €44.76
$44.76 COP 140.7K
16.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.49 €21.92
$17.06 COP 53.6K
49.41%
Cinema Ticket
$17.20 €14.79
$6.20 COP 19.5K
177.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,541 €2,184
$793 COP 2.5M
220.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K €10.4K
$9,019 COP 28.4M
34.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.6 €85.6
$85.6 COP 269.1K
16.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.25 €38.91
$58.5 COP 183.8K
-22.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 €94.9
$136 COP 428.4K
-19.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 €121
$103 COP 324.1K
36.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,719 €1,478
$1,060 COP 3.3M
62.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,335 €1,148
$680 COP 2.1M
96.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,886 €2,481
$2,012 COP 6.3M
43.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,388 €2,053
$1,169 COP 3.7M
104.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,429 €5,527
$4,111 COP 12.9M
56.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,581 €3,938
$1,701 COP 5.3M
169.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,373 €3,760
$665 COP 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.

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