Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between The Hague and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,614 a month against $2,733 in The Hague, rent and utilities included – about $13,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

The Hague
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$2,733
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in The Hague and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in The Hague and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,733 per month in The Hague vs $1,614 in Medellin, rent included.

  • The Hague $2,733
  • Medellin $1,614

A couple spends around $4,089 per month in The Hague vs $2,402 in Medellin, rent included.

  • The Hague $4,089
  • Medellin $2,402

A family of three spends $5,446 per month in The Hague vs $3,190 in Medellin, rent included.

  • The Hague $5,446
  • Medellin $3,190

The Hague costs about 69% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both The Hague and Medellin sit above the global median – The Hague by 102%, Medellin by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.35 €19.88
$7.93 COP 25.2K
181.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.5 €77.8
$46.13 COP 146.3K
89.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.89 €13.24
$9.50 COP 30.1K
56.74%
Cappuccino
$4.39 €3.91
$3.11 COP 9,866
41.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28 €3.81
$1.83 COP 5,800
133.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08 €3.63
$1.38 COP 4,360
195.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.16 €6.37
$3.05 COP 9,672
134.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.64 €6.79
$5.50 COP 17.4K
38.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 €1.33
$1.45 COP 4,600
2.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 €2.04
$2.36 COP 7,496
-2.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 €2.23
$1.68 COP 5,328
49.40%
Eggs
$4.73 €4.20
$2.86 COP 9,077
65.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.45 €12.85
$10.19 COP 32.3K
41.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.18 €11.73
$9.53 COP 30.2K
38.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.25 €17.12
$14.04 COP 44.5K
37.11%
Apples (1kg)
$2.53 €2.25
$4.07 COP 12.9K
-37.84%
Banana (1kg)
$2.23 €1.99
$1.50 COP 4,742
48.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 €1.76
$2.17 COP 6,891
-8.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.60 €3.20
$2.31 COP 7,310
55.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 €1.16
$1.93 COP 6,113
-32.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.28 €1.14
$1.64 COP 5,196
-21.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 €0.99
$1.13 COP 3,571
-0.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 €0.83
$1.25 COP 3,954
-25.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.47 €12.87
$3.99 COP 12.6K
262.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.89 €5.24
$13.35 COP 42.3K
-55.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.19
$1.70 COP 5,384
-21.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 €1.74
$2.37 COP 7,525
-17.72%
🚌 Getting Around
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.59 €4.08
$1.21 COP 3,827
279.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$91.1 €81.0
$76.5 COP 242.5K
19.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.54 €4.03
$1.32 COP 4,179
243.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.32 €2.95
$2.14 COP 6,774
55.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.71 €29.99
$8.47 COP 26.8K
297.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.52 €2.24
$1.30 COP 4,114
93.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.4K €36.9K
$28.0K COP 88.7M
48.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K €35.1K
$35.4K COP 112.3M
11.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$281 €250
$172 COP 545.6K
63.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.39 €25.25
$13.37 COP 42.4K
112.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.3 €48.31
$28.73 COP 91.1K
89.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.4 €44.82
$45.24 COP 143.5K
11.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.94 €21.30
$17.04 COP 54.0K
40.49%
Cinema Ticket
$16.49 €14.67
$6.28 COP 19.9K
162.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,400 €2,135
$770 COP 2.4M
211.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K €10.3K
$9,011 COP 28.6M
28.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.8 €85.2
$86.4 COP 274.0K
10.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.61 €38.79
$57.1 COP 181.1K
-23.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 €96.2
$137 COP 432.9K
-20.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136 €121
$97.9 COP 310.4K
39.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,640 €1,459
$1,055 COP 3.3M
55.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,291 €1,148
$616 COP 2.0M
109.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,798 €2,489
$1,892 COP 6.0M
47.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,264 €2,014
$1,023 COP 3.2M
121.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,067 €5,396
$4,059 COP 12.9M
49.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,538 €4,037
$1,678 COP 5.3M
170.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,069 €3,619
$652 COP 2.1M
523.69%
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: October 10, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
The Hague
$1.3K
Medellin
$616 52.3% $675
Monthly Utilities & Internet
The Hague
$364
Medellin
$214 41.2% $150
Eating Out
The Hague
$361
Medellin
$168 53.3% $192
Groceries & Markets
The Hague
$330
Medellin
$295 10.8% $36
Clothing & Footwear
The Hague
$173
Medellin
$170 1.5% $2.6
Getting Around
The Hague
$131
Medellin
$93 28.5% $37
Sport & Entertainment
The Hague
$83
Medellin
$58 30.7% $26

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,640 in The Hague versus $1,055 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 524% 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 $87.0 in The Hague versus $46.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $330 vs $295 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇳🇱 The Hague
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
19:17 7:17 PM
12:17 12:17 PM
7 h behind The Hague
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
562,839
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • The Hague Medellin 8,770 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • The Hague
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 69%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,099 per month in The Hague and $2,421 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 $87.0 in The Hague and $46.00 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 $2,733 in The Hague and $1,614 in Medellin. That's a gap of about 69%.
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 $1,614, than in The Hague at $2,733. 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.

The Hague vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?