Cost of Living Comparison Between David and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between David and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $977 per month in David vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,152 per month in David vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,327 per month in David vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

David is about 5% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both David and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – David 27% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.86 PAB 4.86

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-21.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.40 PAB 35.40

$32.60 COP 106.1K

8.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.61 PAB 6.61

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-9.95%

Cappuccino

$2.67 PAB 2.67

$1.72 COP 5,600

55.23%

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

$1.44 PAB 1.44

$1.05 COP 3,420

37.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 PAB 1.44

$0.77 COP 2,515

87.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 PAB 1.46

$1.69 COP 5,488

-13.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 PAB 2.22

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-29.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 PAB 1.78

$1.05 COP 3,423

69.52%

White Bread (500g)

$2.13 PAB 2.13

$1.30 COP 4,236

63.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.49 PAB 2.49

$1.40 COP 4,544

77.86%

Eggs

$2.02 PAB 2.02

$2.16 COP 7,047

-6.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.49 PAB 5.49

$4.39 COP 14.3K

25.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.07 PAB 11.07

$5.88 COP 19.1K

88.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.80 PAB 2.80

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-67.59%

Apples (1kg)

$7.70 PAB 7.70

$2.28 COP 7,426

237.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,604

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,983

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 PAB 2.68

$1.13 COP 3,692

137.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 PAB 1.34

$0.85 COP 2,753

57.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 PAB 2.44

$0.91 COP 2,975

168.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,630

Wine (Bottle)

$10.04 PAB 10.04

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-18.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 PAB 0.77

$0.84 COP 2,728

-8.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 PAB 3.03

$1.42 COP 4,623

113.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 PAB 1.97

$1.92 COP 6,235

2.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 PAB 1.01

$0.99 COP 3,223

2.02%

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

$25.3K PAB 25.3K

$18.0K COP 58.7M

40.36%

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

$30.4K PAB 30.4K

$26.6K COP 86.7M

14.12%

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

$174 PAB 174

$80.8 COP 263.1K

114.84%

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

$28.40 PAB 28.40

$9.95 COP 32.4K

185.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.47 PAB 42.47

$24.18 COP 78.7K

75.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.64 PAB 30.64

$25.08 COP 81.7K

22.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

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

$305 COP 993.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,087 PAB 6,087

$6,059 COP 19.7M

0.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$352 PAB 352

$477 COP 1.6M

-26.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 PAB 348

$376 COP 1.2M

-7.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$594 PAB 594

$617 COP 2.0M

-3.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-47.88%

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

Last update for David: July 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $352 in David versus $477 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 4% 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 $35.00 in David versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $193 – making Medellin 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

David vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,466 per month in David and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 22% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in David and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in David, where all-in costs run around $977, than in Medellin at $1,031. In David it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward David – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 David. 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.