Cost of Living Comparison Between Zamora de Hidalgo and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Zamora de Hidalgo and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,202 per month in Zamora de Hidalgo vs $1,589 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,844 per month in Zamora de Hidalgo vs $2,364 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,486 per month in Zamora de Hidalgo vs $3,139 in Medellin, rent included.

Zamora de Hidalgo is about 24% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Zamora de Hidalgo sits 10% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zamora de Hidalgo
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.31 MX$150
$8.01 COP 25.6K
3.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.74 MX$357
$46.55 COP 149.1K
-57.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.12 MX$165
$9.43 COP 30.2K
-3.29%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$66.6
$2.91 COP 9,326
26.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$31.82
$1.75 COP 5,614
0.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.86
$1.32 COP 4,241
-21.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 MX$30.55
$3.13 COP 10.0K
-46.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 MX$49.75
$5.55 COP 17.8K
-50.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zamora de Hidalgo
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 MX$34.01
$1.41 COP 4,519
33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.70 MX$48.77
$2.44 COP 7,818
10.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.03 MX$36.73
$1.63 COP 5,218
24.54%
Eggs
$2.85 MX$51.5
$2.82 COP 9,038
1.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.85 MX$160
$9.69 COP 31.1K
-8.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.03 MX$163
$9.32 COP 29.8K
-3.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.92 MX$252
$13.46 COP 43.1K
3.42%
Apples (1kg)
$3.51 MX$63.5
$4.00 COP 12.8K
-12.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 MX$30.55
$1.48 COP 4,744
14.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 MX$40.04
$2.12 COP 6,804
4.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 MX$34.54
$2.25 COP 7,216
-15.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.89 MX$34.13
$1.91 COP 6,124
-1.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.86 MX$33.53
$1.62 COP 5,188
14.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 MX$27.95
$1.15 COP 3,677
34.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 MX$22.38
$1.26 COP 4,043
-1.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.48 MX$81.0
$3.82 COP 12.2K
17.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.96 MX$325
$13.11 COP 42.0K
36.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.37 MX$42.92
$1.60 COP 5,110
48.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14 MX$74.8
$2.26 COP 7,226
83.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Zamora de Hidalgo
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.70 MX$12.58
$1.17 COP 3,751
-40.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$75.0 COP 240.3K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.32 MX$60.0
$1.27 COP 4,077
161.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.62 MX$47.42
$2.05 COP 6,566
27.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.93 MX$198
$8.20 COP 26.3K
33.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 MX$27.20
$1.27 COP 4,067
18.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$383.6K
$26.8K COP 85.8M
-20.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K MX$438.3K
$34.4K COP 110.2M
-29.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zamora de Hidalgo
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.9 MX$1,119
$162 COP 519.6K
-61.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.01 MX$506
$13.12 COP 42.0K
113.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.48 MX$461
$28.09 COP 90.0K
-9.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zamora de Hidalgo
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.15 MX$617
$44.33 COP 142.0K
-22.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.75 MX$375
$16.33 COP 52.3K
27.07%
Cinema Ticket
$7.60 MX$137
$6.09 COP 19.5K
24.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zamora de Hidalgo
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$268 MX$4,844
$764 COP 2.4M
-64.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,019 MX$90.7K
$8,904 COP 28.5M
-43.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zamora de Hidalgo
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.5 MX$986
$85.0 COP 272.2K
-35.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.92 MX$812
$57.5 COP 184.1K
-21.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 MX$1,845
$132 COP 422.1K
-22.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 MX$1,812
$95.8 COP 306.7K
4.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zamora de Hidalgo
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$608 MX$11.0K
$1,028 COP 3.3M
-40.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$401 MX$7,250
$604 COP 1.9M
-33.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,037 MX$18.7K
$1,802 COP 5.8M
-42.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 MX$14.3K
$993 COP 3.2M
-20.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,871 MX$33.8K
$3,921 COP 12.6M
-52.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,150 MX$20.8K
$1,639 COP 5.2M
-29.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zamora de Hidalgo
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$626 COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.99
10.94
9.60%

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

Last update for Zamora de Hidalgo: October 3, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $608 in Zamora de Hidalgo 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 $20.00 in Zamora de Hidalgo versus $47.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $311 in Zamora de Hidalgo vs $288 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Zamora de Hidalgo vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Zamora de Hidalgo?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 32%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,803 per month in Zamora de Hidalgo and $2,384 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 Zamora de Hidalgo, 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 Zamora de Hidalgo or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Zamora de Hidalgo and $47.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Zamora de Hidalgo and in Medellin?
Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Zamora de Hidalgo or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zamora de Hidalgo, where all-in costs run around $1,202, than in Medellin at $1,589. In Zamora de Hidalgo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Zamora de Hidalgo or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zamora de Hidalgo – 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 Zamora de Hidalgo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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