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 $2,842 per month in The Hague vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,202 per month in The Hague vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,562 per month in The Hague vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

The Hague costs about 181% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The Hague sits 112% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.50 €15.07
$5.99 COPΒ 21.4K
192.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.2 €78.6
$32.86 COPΒ 117.2K
177.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.94 €12.00
$7.09 COPΒ 25.3K
96.61%
Cappuccino
$4.40 €3.79
$1.71 COPΒ 6,105
157.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 €2.92
$1.10 COPΒ 3,918
209.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 €2.39
$0.78 COPΒ 2,776
256.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.08 €6.10
$1.68 COPΒ 5,987
321.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.89 €5.08
$3.07 COPΒ 10.9K
91.86%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 €1.13
$1.09 COPΒ 3,899
20.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 €2.00
$1.26 COPΒ 4,500
84.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.94 €2.53
$1.38 COPΒ 4,914
113.04%
Eggs
$4.86 €4.18
$2.19 COPΒ 7,813
121.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.58 €12.55
$4.40 COPΒ 15.7K
231.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.69 €13.51
$5.63 COPΒ 20.1K
178.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.40 €14.13
$8.89 COPΒ 31.7K
84.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.38 €2.05
$2.34 COPΒ 8,334
1.71%
Banana (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$1.06 COPΒ 3,771
132.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.95 €1.68
$1.50 COPΒ 5,365
30.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.66 €4.02
$1.38 COPΒ 4,915
237.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 €1.71
$1.15 COPΒ 4,104
73.04%
Onion (1kg)
$2.08 €1.79
$1.16 COPΒ 4,148
79.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 €1.08
$0.89 COPΒ 3,176
40.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 €0.74
$0.84 COPΒ 2,992
2.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.84 €11.92
$2.28 COPΒ 8,131
507.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.87 €5.06
$10.64 COPΒ 37.9K
-44.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 €1.25
$1.20 COPΒ 4,276
20.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 €2.05
$2.47 COPΒ 8,809
-3.64%
🚌 Getting Around
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.37 €2.91
$0.86 COPΒ 3,051
291.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$117 €100
$41.40 COPΒ 147.6K
181.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.87 €4.20
$1.47 COPΒ 5,255
231.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.16 €2.72
$1.96 COPΒ 6,997
61.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.26 €30.36
$7.74 COPΒ 27.6K
355.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.21 €1.90
$0.95 COPΒ 3,403
132.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.3K €36.4K
$18.1K COPΒ 64.6M
133.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K €30.1K
$26.5K COPΒ 94.4M
32.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$243 €209
$82.3 COPΒ 293.2K
195.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.72 €22.15
$9.50 COPΒ 33.9K
170.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.73 €39.38
$24.23 COPΒ 86.4K
88.73%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.17 €37.17
$25.89 COPΒ 92.3K
66.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.41 €22.74
$19.00 COPΒ 67.7K
39.00%
Cinema Ticket
$16.89 €14.55
$3.93 COPΒ 14.0K
329.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,369 €2,040
$309 COPΒ 1.1M
665.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.7K €10.0K
$5,965 COPΒ 21.3M
95.57%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$127 €109
$58.7 COPΒ 209.1K
116.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.38 €41.66
$32.35 COPΒ 115.3K
49.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 €101
$103 COPΒ 365.7K
14.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154 €133
$108 COPΒ 386.5K
42.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,692 €1,457
$476 COPΒ 1.7M
255.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,484 €1,278
$379 COPΒ 1.4M
291.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,068 €2,642
$838 COPΒ 3.0M
265.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,431 €2,094
$724 COPΒ 2.6M
235.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,528 €5,621
$2,791 COPΒ 9.9M
133.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,719 €4,064
$1,211 COPΒ 4.3M
289.59%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
The Hague
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,597 €3,958
$512 COPΒ 1.8M
798.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4
13.43
-70.22%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for The Hague: June 2, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,692 in The Hague 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 798% 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 $91.0 in The Hague versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $346 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
The Hague vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than The Hague?
Yes – The Hague is pricier by about 181%, 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 $4,262 per month in The Hague 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 The Hague or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $91.0 in The Hague and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafΓ© pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in The Hague vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,842 in The Hague 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 The Hague or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in The Hague at $2,842. 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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