Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Derry and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,614 a month against $2,484 in Derry, rent and utilities included – about $10,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Derry
🇮🇪 Ireland
$2,484
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Derry and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Derry and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,484 in Derry versus $1,614 in Medellin.

  • Derry $2,484
  • Medellin $1,614

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,000 in Derry versus $2,402 in Medellin.

  • Derry $3,000
  • Medellin $2,402

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,516 in Derry versus $3,190 in Medellin.

  • Derry $3,516
  • Medellin $3,190

Living in Derry is roughly 54% more expensive than in Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Derry 84% above, Medellin 20% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Derry
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.52 €18.25
$7.93 COP 25.2K
158.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.2 €45.58
$46.13 COP 146.3K
11.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.39 €8.35
$9.50 COP 30.1K
-1.16%
Cappuccino
$4.44 €3.95
$3.11 COP 9,866
42.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 €1.46
$1.83 COP 5,800
-10.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 €1.45
$1.38 COP 4,360
18.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.17 €4.60
$3.05 COP 9,672
69.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.68 €5.94
$5.50 COP 17.4K
21.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Derry
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 €1.31
$1.45 COP 4,600
2.07%
White Bread (500g)
$1.49 €1.33
$2.36 COP 7,496
-36.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.06 €1.83
$1.68 COP 5,328
22.62%
Eggs
$3.40 €3.02
$2.86 COP 9,077
18.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.23 €11.77
$10.19 COP 32.3K
29.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.04 €8.93
$9.53 COP 30.2K
5.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.19 €11.73
$14.04 COP 44.5K
-6.05%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 €2.61
$4.07 COP 12.9K
-28.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 €1.43
$1.50 COP 4,742
7.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.03 €2.70
$2.17 COP 6,891
39.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.15 €3.69
$2.31 COP 7,310
79.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.02 €0.90
$1.93 COP 6,113
-47.15%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 €1.26
$1.64 COP 5,196
-13.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 €0.91
$1.13 COP 3,571
-9.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 €1.65
$1.25 COP 3,954
48.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$20.71 €18.42
$3.99 COP 12.6K
419.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.27 €9.14
$13.35 COP 42.3K
-23.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.99
$1.70 COP 5,384
31.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 €2.33
$2.37 COP 7,525
10.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Derry
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.60 €2.32
$1.21 COP 3,827
114.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$76.5 COP 242.5K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.20 €4.63
$1.32 COP 4,179
293.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.41 €1.26
$2.14 COP 6,774
-34.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$56.0 €49.78
$8.47 COP 26.8K
560.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.97 €1.75
$1.30 COP 4,114
51.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.6K €34.3K
$28.0K COP 88.7M
37.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.9K €32.8K
$35.4K COP 112.3M
4.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Derry
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$243 €216
$172 COP 545.6K
41.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.14 €18.81
$13.37 COP 42.4K
58.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.5 €44.90
$28.73 COP 91.1K
75.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Derry
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.93 €31.96
$45.24 COP 143.5K
-20.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.84 €22.99
$17.04 COP 54.0K
51.64%
Cinema Ticket
$13.02 €11.58
$6.28 COP 19.9K
107.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Derry
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,196 €1,064
$770 COP 2.4M
55.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,163 €4,592
$9,011 COP 28.6M
-42.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Derry
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €89.9
$86.4 COP 274.0K
17.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.64 €43.26
$57.1 COP 181.1K
-14.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 €87.9
$137 COP 432.9K
-27.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.9 €64.8
$97.9 COP 310.4K
-25.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Derry
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,574 €1,400
$1,055 COP 3.3M
49.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,335 €1,187
$616 COP 2.0M
116.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,322 €1,176
$1,892 COP 6.0M
-30.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,085 €965
$1,023 COP 3.2M
6.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,310 €2,055
$4,059 COP 12.9M
-43.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,702 €1,514
$1,678 COP 5.3M
1.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Derry
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,599 €2,312
$652 COP 2.1M
298.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.68
10.94
-66.36%

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

Last update for Derry: October 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Derry
$1.3K
Medellin
$616 53.9% $719
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Derry
$314
Medellin
$214 31.9% $100
Groceries & Markets
Derry
$307
Medellin
$295 4.1% $13
Eating Out
Derry
$298
Medellin
$168 43.5% $130
Clothing & Footwear
Derry
$145
Medellin
$170 17.6% $25
Sport & Entertainment
Derry
$62
Medellin
$58 6.7% $4.1
Getting Around
Derry
$23 *
Medellin
$93 312% $71

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,574 in Derry and $1,055 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Derry pays 298% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $51.0 in Derry vs $46.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $307 vs $295 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇪 Derry
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
18:28 6:28 PM
12:28 12:28 PM
6 h behind Derry
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
85,016
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Derry Medellin 8,060 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Derry
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Derry vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Derry?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 54% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Derry or Medellin?
Average pay runs 298% higher in Derry, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Derry and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,574 in Derry versus $1,055 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Derry and in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Derry. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Derry and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,484 per month in Derry versus $1,614 in Medellin – a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Derry or in Medellin?
At $1,614 in Medellin versus $2,484 in Derry, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Derry. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Derry or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Derry, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Derry or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Derry and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Derry. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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