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Hanoi vs Medellín cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated October 2026
🇻🇳 Hanoi
🇨🇴 Medellín
At a glance
- Where Hanoi is clearly cheaper: Scooter rental (74%↓), Transit (72%↓), Entry ticket (67%↓)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Medellín is easier to travel (3.0 vs 3.2). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling — Hanoi 4 vs Medellín 3. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking ›
Item by item
| Item | Hanoi | Medellín | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₫ 70,000$2.66 | COL$ 16,000$3.9 | Hanoi −32% |
| Street food1 item | ₫ 50,000$1.9 | COL$ 7,200$1.76 | Medellín −8% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₫ 280,000$10.6 | COL$ 57,000$13.9 | Hanoi −23% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₫ 45,000$1.71 | COL$ 8,200$2 | Hanoi −14% |
| Beerone bottle | ₫ 25,000$0.95 | COL$ 6,500$1.59 | Hanoi −40% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₫ 120,000$4.56 | COL$ 30,000$7.32 | Hanoi −38% |
| Bottled water | ₫ 8,000$0.3 | COL$ 2,500$0.61 | Hanoi −50% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₫ 12,000$0.46 | COL$ 3,500$0.85 | Hanoi −47% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₫ 75,000$2.85 | COL$ 14,000$3.41 | Hanoi −16% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₫ 25,000$0.95 | COL$ 9,000$2.2 | Hanoi −57% |
| Transitone ride | ₫ 8,000$0.3 | COL$ 4,400$1.07 | Hanoi −72% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₫ 150,000$5.7 | COL$ 90,000$22 | Hanoi −74% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₫ 800,000$30.4 | COL$ 200,000$48.8 | Hanoi −38% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₫ 9,500,000$361 | COL$ 2,200,000$537 | Hanoi −33% |
| Laundry | ₫ 30,000$1.14 | COL$ 7,000$1.71 | Hanoi −33% |
| SIM card1 week data | ₫ 220,000$8.37 | COL$ 33,000$8.05 | similar |
| Haircutcut | ₫ 80,000$3.04 | COL$ 25,000$6.1 | Hanoi −50% |
| Massage1 hour | ₫ 300,000$11.4 | COL$ 80,000$19.5 | Hanoi −42% |
| Half-day tourper person | ₫ 650,000$24.7 | COL$ 100,000$24.4 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₫ 70,000$2.66 | COL$ 33,000$8.05 | Hanoi −67% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Hanoi or Medellín?
Hanoi is 30% cheaper than Medellín. Daily budget $61.4 vs $89.6; a month $1,277 vs $1,812.
Which is easier to travel, Hanoi or Medellín?
Medellín is easier: Medellín 3.0/5 vs Hanoi 3.2/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Hanoi and Medellín?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Hanoi is about $1,277 and Medellín about $1,812 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.