Cost of Living Comparison Between Dahab and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Dahab and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $455 per month in Dahab vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $741 per month in Dahab vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,027 per month in Dahab vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Dahab is about 55% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Dahab and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Dahab 66% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dahab
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.52 E£183
$5.99 COP 21.4K
-41.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.71 E£814
$32.86 COP 117.4K
-52.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.73 E£245
$7.09 COP 25.3K
-33.29%
Cappuccino
$1.51 E£78.1
$1.71 COP 6,115
-11.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 E£14.94
$1.10 COP 3,924
-73.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.12 E£6.28
$0.78 COP 2,781
-84.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.21 E£62.6
$1.68 COP 5,997
-27.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 E£150
$3.07 COP 11.0K
-5.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dahab
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 E£46.16
$1.09 COP 3,906
-18.35%
White Bread (500g)
$0.58 E£30.06
$1.26 COP 4,508
-53.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.71 E£36.64
$1.38 COP 4,922
-48.55%
Eggs
$1.43 E£74.3
$2.19 COP 7,827
-34.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.29 E£171
$4.40 COP 15.7K
-25.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 E£224
$5.63 COP 20.1K
-23.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.54 E£442
$8.89 COP 31.8K
-3.94%
Apples (1kg)
$1.42 E£73.3
$2.34 COP 8,349
-39.32%
Banana (1kg)
$0.54 E£27.86
$1.06 COP 3,777
-49.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.42 E£21.87
$1.50 COP 5,374
-72.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.39 E£20.37
$1.38 COP 4,924
-71.74%
Potato (1kg)
$0.41 E£21.12
$1.15 COP 4,111
-64.35%
Onion (1kg)
$0.44 E£22.73
$1.16 COP 4,155
-62.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.24 E£12.47
$0.89 COP 3,182
-73.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.21 E£10.63
$0.84 COP 2,997
-75.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.93 E£100
$2.28 COP 8,145
-15.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.67 E£345
$10.64 COP 38.0K
-37.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 E£70.6
$1.20 COP 4,284
13.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 E£92.5
$2.47 COP 8,824
-27.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Dahab
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 E£9.55
$0.86 COP 3,056
-79.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.40 COP 147.9K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.42 E£21.72
$1.47 COP 5,264
-71.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 E£16.13
$1.96 COP 7,009
-84.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.97 E£102
$7.74 COP 27.6K
-74.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.31 E£15.85
$0.95 COP 3,409
-67.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K E£1.8M
$18.1K COP 64.7M
92.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K E£1.7M
$26.5K COP 94.6M
26.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dahab
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$11.95 E£619
$82.3 COP 293.7K
-85.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.54 E£339
$9.50 COP 33.9K
-31.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.64 E£551
$24.23 COP 86.5K
-56.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dahab
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.64 E£1,173
$25.89 COP 92.4K
-12.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.00 COP 67.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.91 E£151
$3.93 COP 14.0K
-25.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dahab
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$88.1 E£4,563
$309 COP 1.1M
-71.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,883 E£97.5K
$5,965 COP 21.3M
-68.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dahab
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.67 E£1,433
$58.7 COP 209.5K
-52.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.99 E£2,486
$32.35 COP 115.5K
48.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 E£5,736
$103 COP 366.4K
7.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.0 E£2,591
$108 COP 387.2K
-53.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dahab
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$190 E£9,847
$476 COP 1.7M
-60.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$98.4 E£5,096
$379 COP 1.4M
-74.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$305 E£15.8K
$838 COP 3.0M
-63.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$178 E£9,196
$724 COP 2.6M
-75.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,791 COP 10.0M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,211 COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dahab
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$137 E£7,103
$512 COP 1.8M
-73.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.67
13.43
24.13%

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

Last update for Dahab: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $190 in Dahab 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 273% higher in Medellin, 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 $16.00 in Dahab versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $124 vs $188 – making Dahab 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
Dahab vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Dahab?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 123%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $683 per month in Dahab 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 Dahab, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Dahab vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $455 in Dahab and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $88.1 per month in Dahab and $309 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Dahab or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dahab, where all-in costs run around $455, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Dahab it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Dahab or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Dahab – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Dahab 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 Dahab. 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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