🙂A single person spends $1,657 per month in Darlington vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,668 per month in Darlington vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,680 per month in Darlington vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Darlington is about 3% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Darlington and Medellin sit above the global median – Darlington by 21%, Medellin by 25%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Darlington
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.78£10.93
$8.03COP 25.2K
84.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.0£45.85
$48.26COP 151.7K
28.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.45£6.98
$9.77COP 30.7K
-3.28%
Cappuccino
$3.65£2.70
$2.91COP 9,149
25.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21£1.63
$1.94COP 6,110
13.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00£1.48
$1.52COP 4,783
31.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.47£3.31
$3.09COP 9,721
44.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28£3.16
$5.74COP 18.1K
-25.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Darlington
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27£0.94
$1.36COP 4,287
-6.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.38£1.02
$2.39COP 7,505
-42.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.44£1.80
$1.70COP 5,346
43.53%
Eggs
$3.79£2.80
$2.87COP 9,021
32.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.09£5.98
$9.94COP 31.2K
-18.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.37£5.45
$10.78COP 33.9K
-31.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.56£7.06
$14.73COP 46.3K
-35.10%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39£2.50
$4.09COP 12.8K
-17.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31£0.97
$1.57COP 4,940
-16.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.60£2.66
$2.13COP 6,682
69.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.73£2.76
$2.21COP 6,959
68.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70£1.25
$2.05COP 6,435
-17.07%
Onion(1kg)
$1.83£1.35
$1.50COP 4,728
22.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22£0.90
$1.19COP 3,740
2.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09£0.81
$1.16COP 3,640
-6.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$22.44£16.59
$3.90COP 12.2K
475.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.36£6.92
$14.44COP 45.4K
-35.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16£1.60
$1.58COP 4,978
36.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09£2.29
$2.83COP 8,889
9.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Darlington
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.76£2.04
$1.17COP 3,672
135.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$84.6£62.5
$77.7COP 244.3K
8.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.03£2.98
$1.28COP 4,038
214.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.09COP 6,576
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.31£12.05
$8.62COP 27.1K
89.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.98£1.47
$1.30COP 4,080
52.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K£15.3K
$27.7KCOP 86.9M
-25.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4K£23.2K
$35.5KCOP 111.6M
-11.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Darlington
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$267£197
$176COP 553.4K
51.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.21£11.98
$13.37COP 42.0K
21.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.31£31.27
$29.89COP 94.0K
41.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Darlington
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.03£29.59
$44.76COP 140.7K
-10.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.67£4.93
$17.06COP 53.6K
-60.90%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65£4.92
$6.20COP 19.5K
7.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Darlington
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$834£616
$793COP 2.5M
5.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$9,019COP 28.4M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Darlington
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.1£50.3
$85.6COP 269.1K
-20.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.3£41.59
$58.5COP 183.8K
-3.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116£86.0
$136COP 428.4K
-14.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127£93.6
$103COP 324.1K
22.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Darlington
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682£504
$1,060COP 3.3M
-35.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$535£395
$680COP 2.1M
-21.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,492£1,103
$2,012COP 6.3M
-25.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,237£915
$1,169COP 3.7M
5.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,495£1,845
$4,111COP 12.9M
-39.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,701COP 5.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Darlington
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,779£2,055
$665COP 2.1M
317.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.61
10.94
-48.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Darlington: August 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Darlington 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 318% higher in Darlington, 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 $62.0 in Darlington versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $261 in Darlington vs $303 in Medellin – so Darlington 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
Darlington vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Darlington?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $2,485 per month in Darlington and $2,574 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 Darlington, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 9% less in Darlington. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $834 per month in Darlington and $793 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Darlington or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Darlington, where all-in costs run around $1,657, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Darlington it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Darlington or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Darlington – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Darlington 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 Darlington. 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.
Darlington vs other spots: cost of living compared