Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Wailuku, HI and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,625 a month against $2,662 in Wailuku, HI, rent and utilities included – about $12,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Wailuku, HI
🇺🇸 United States
$2,662
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Wailuku, HI 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 Wailuku, HI and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,662 per month in Wailuku, HI vs $1,625 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Wailuku, HI $2,662
  • Medellin $1,625

A couple spends around $3,969 per month in Wailuku, HI vs $2,412 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Wailuku, HI $3,969
  • Medellin $2,412

A family of three spends $5,276 per month in Wailuku, HI vs $3,199 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Wailuku, HI $5,276
  • Medellin $3,199

Wailuku, HI costs about 64% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Wailuku, HI and Medellin sit above the global median – Wailuku, HI by 96%, Medellin by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wailuku, HI
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.70 $19.70
$8.30 COP 26.3K
137.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.1 $76.1
$46.91 COP 148.7K
62.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.52 $11.52
$9.24 COP 29.3K
24.68%
Cappuccino
$5.21 $5.21
$3.05 COP 9,676
70.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.80 COP 5,707
52.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.38 COP 4,382
42.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.11 $6.11
$3.24 COP 10.3K
88.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.30 $7.30
$5.56 COP 17.6K
31.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wailuku, HI
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.50 COP 4,760
-30.67%
White Bread (500g)
$3.58 $3.58
$2.37 COP 7,508
51.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.23 $4.23
$1.70 COP 5,377
148.82%
Eggs
$4.11 $4.11
$2.96 COP 9,379
38.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.22 $12.22
$10.22 COP 32.4K
19.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.72 $11.72
$9.74 COP 30.9K
20.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.91 $16.91
$13.90 COP 44.1K
21.65%
Apples (1kg)
$4.90 $4.90
$4.13 COP 13.1K
18.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.53 COP 4,839
7.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$2.22 COP 7,052
95.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.74 $4.74
$2.27 COP 7,194
108.81%
Potato (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$1.99 COP 6,311
43.72%
Onion (1kg)
$2.89 $2.89
$1.67 COP 5,285
73.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.18 COP 3,742
85.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.24 COP 3,919
79.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.64 $10.64
$3.87 COP 12.3K
174.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.02 $15.02
$13.78 COP 43.7K
9.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.66 COP 5,256
3.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 $3.30
$2.40 COP 7,615
37.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Wailuku, HI
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.24 COP 3,944
58.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$120 $120
$78.2 COP 248.0K
53.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.28 COP 4,044
142.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.15 COP 6,803
-20.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.35 $29.35
$8.37 COP 26.5K
250.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.35 COP 4,288
12.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K $27.6K
$34.8K COP 110.2M
-20.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$34.7K COP 110.0M
-25.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wailuku, HI
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$197 $197
$167 COP 528.4K
18.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.8 $56.8
$13.62 COP 43.2K
317.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.0 $71.0
$29.12 COP 92.3K
143.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wailuku, HI
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.32 $43.32
$45.09 COP 143.0K
-3.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$71.0 $71.0
$17.18 COP 54.5K
312.98%
Cinema Ticket
$14.18 $14.18
$6.97 COP 22.1K
103.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wailuku, HI
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,379 $1,379
$790 COP 2.5M
74.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.5K $23.5K
$9,041 COP 28.7M
160.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wailuku, HI
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 $52.6
$87.8 COP 278.4K
-40.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.76 $41.76
$58.2 COP 184.4K
-28.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.1 $87.1
$139 COP 440.7K
-37.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$98.9 COP 313.5K
15.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wailuku, HI
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,574 $1,574
$1,028 COP 3.3M
53.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,278 $1,278
$620 COP 2.0M
106.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,551 $2,551
$1,881 COP 6.0M
35.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,168 $2,168
$1,008 COP 3.2M
115.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,735 $2,735
$3,988 COP 12.6M
-31.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,250 $2,250
$1,702 COP 5.4M
32.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wailuku, HI
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$663 COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
10.94
-39.95%

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

Last update for Wailuku, HI: October 18, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Wailuku, HI
$1.3K
Medellin
$619 51.5% $658
Groceries & Markets
Wailuku, HI
$396
Medellin
$298 24.8% $98
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wailuku, HI
$325
Medellin
$209 35.6% $116
Eating Out
Wailuku, HI
$319
Medellin
$171 46.4% $148
Getting Around
Wailuku, HI
$140
Medellin
$95 31.8% $44
Clothing & Footwear
Wailuku, HI
$133
Medellin
$173 30% $40
Sport & Entertainment
Wailuku, HI
$72
Medellin
$59 17.6% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,574 in Wailuku, HI versus $1,028 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Wailuku, HI versus $47.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $396 vs $298 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Wailuku, HI
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
00:53 12:53 AM
05:53 5:53 AM
5 h ahead of Wailuku, HI
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,313
2,486,723
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 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
  • Wailuku, HI Medellin 8,820 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Wailuku, HI
  • 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
Wailuku, HI vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Wailuku, HI?
Yes – Wailuku, HI is pricier by about 64%, 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 $3,992 per month in Wailuku, HI and $2,437 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 Wailuku, HI or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Wailuku, HI and $47.00 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 Wailuku, HI and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,662 in Wailuku, HI and $1,625 in Medellin. That's a gap of about 64%.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Wailuku, HI or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,625, than in Wailuku, HI at $2,662. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Wailuku, HI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Wailuku, HI 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 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, Wailuku, HI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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