Cost of Living Comparison Between Daegu and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Daegu and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,541 per month in Daegu vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,321 per month in Daegu vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,102 per month in Daegu vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Daegu is about 10% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Daegu and Medellin sit above the global median – Daegu by 12%, Medellin by 25%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.38 ₩12.7K

$8.03 COP 25.3K

16.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.70 ₩49.9K

$48.26 COP 152.0K

-23.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.51 ₩7,490

$9.77 COP 30.8K

-43.60%

Cappuccino

$3.88 ₩5,280

$2.91 COP 9,167

33.33%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 ₩2,183

$1.94 COP 6,122

-17.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₩1,122

$1.52 COP 4,792

-45.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.56 ₩4,839

$3.09 COP 9,740

15.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.25 ₩7,143

$5.74 COP 18.1K

-8.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 ₩3,199

$1.36 COP 4,296

72.79%

White Bread (500g)

$4.46 ₩6,063

$2.39 COP 7,519

86.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.61 ₩3,553

$1.70 COP 5,356

53.53%

Eggs

$2.79 ₩3,789

$2.87 COP 9,038

-2.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.64 ₩13.1K

$9.94 COP 31.3K

-3.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.94 ₩9,434

$10.78 COP 34.0K

-35.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.85 ₩28.3K

$14.73 COP 46.4K

41.55%

Apples (1kg)

$6.39 ₩8,693

$4.09 COP 12.9K

56.23%

Banana (1kg)

$2.71 ₩3,679

$1.57 COP 4,950

72.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.50 ₩7,473

$2.13 COP 6,695

158.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.57 ₩7,572

$2.21 COP 6,972

152.04%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 ₩3,475

$2.05 COP 6,447

24.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 ₩2,819

$1.50 COP 4,737

38.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.25 ₩5,778

$1.19 COP 3,747

257.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 ₩1,758

$1.16 COP 3,647

11.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.96 ₩4,022

$3.90 COP 12.3K

-24.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.59 ₩19.8K

$14.44 COP 45.5K

1.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₩2,850

$1.58 COP 4,987

32.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₩3,242

$2.83 COP 8,905

-15.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.11 ₩1,515

$1.17 COP 3,679

-5.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.8 ₩97.5K

$77.7 COP 244.8K

-7.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 ₩4,172

$1.28 COP 4,045

139.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ₩764

$2.09 COP 6,589

-73.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.94 ₩10.8K

$8.62 COP 27.1K

-7.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 ₩1,772

$1.30 COP 4,088

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.1K ₩38.2M

$27.7K COP 87.1M

1.62%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$40.6K ₩55.3M

$35.5K COP 111.8M

14.47%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$264 ₩359.2K

$176 COP 554.5K

50.09%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$48.58 ₩66.0K

$13.37 COP 42.1K

263.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.90 ₩54.2K

$29.89 COP 94.1K

33.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.43 ₩67.2K

$44.76 COP 141.0K

10.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.86 ₩16.1K

$17.06 COP 53.7K

-30.48%

Cinema Ticket

$10.99 ₩14.9K

$6.20 COP 19.5K

77.26%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$510 ₩692.7K

$793 COP 2.5M

-35.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.6K ₩37.5M

$9,019 COP 28.4M

205.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 ₩73.3K

$85.6 COP 269.6K

-37.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.2 ₩68.2K

$58.5 COP 184.1K

-14.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.9 ₩127.7K

$136 COP 429.3K

-31.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$161 ₩219.3K

$103 COP 324.7K

56.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$402 ₩546.7K

$1,060 COP 3.3M

-62.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 ₩362.6K

$680 COP 2.1M

-60.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 ₩1.4M

$2,012 COP 6.3M

-49.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$600 ₩815.9K

$1,169 COP 3.7M

-48.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,006 ₩9.5M

$4,111 COP 12.9M

70.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,543 ₩7.5M

$1,701 COP 5.4M

225.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,423 ₩3.3M

$665 COP 2.1M

264.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.07

10.94

-53.66%

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

Last update for Daegu: August 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $402 in Daegu versus $1,060 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 264% higher in Daegu, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Daegu versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $403 in Daegu vs $303 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

Daegu vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,541 in Daegu, $1,716 in Medellin – roughly 11% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,311 per month in Daegu and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Daegu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Daegu and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,541 in Daegu and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Daegu, where all-in costs run around $1,541, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Daegu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,541 in Daegu to $1,716 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Daegu. 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.