Cost of Living Comparison Between Dong Hoi and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Dong Hoi and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $701 in Dong Hoi versus $1,028 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,058 in Dong Hoi versus $1,586 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,415 in Dong Hoi versus $2,144 in Medellin.

Living in Dong Hoi costs roughly 32% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dong Hoi 47% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.12 ₫29.5K

$6.00 COP 20.6K

-81.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.29 ₫296.3K

$32.84 COP 112.5K

-65.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.64 ₫121.7K

$7.42 COP 25.4K

-37.47%

Cappuccino

$1.41 ₫37.0K

$1.65 COP 5,659

-14.55%

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

$0.49 ₫13.0K

$1.07 COP 3,663

-54.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₫7,590

$0.76 COP 2,607

-61.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.71 ₫18.8K

$1.72 COP 5,908

-58.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₫30.5K

$3.20 COP 11.0K

-63.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 ₫36.3K

$1.05 COP 3,597

31.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 ₫22.2K

$1.31 COP 4,479

-35.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₫29.0K

$1.34 COP 4,591

-17.16%

Eggs

$1.41 ₫37.1K

$2.19 COP 7,521

-35.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.69 ₫332.9K

$4.41 COP 15.1K

187.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.41 ₫89.5K

$5.69 COP 19.5K

-40.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.76 ₫256.1K

$8.52 COP 29.2K

14.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ₫68.9K

$2.34 COP 8,023

12.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 ₫26.2K

$1.11 COP 3,804

-9.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.11 ₫29.2K

$1.52 COP 5,210

-26.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.10 ₫28.9K

$1.37 COP 4,680

-19.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 ₫29.0K

$1.15 COP 3,950

-3.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ₫31.7K

$1.18 COP 4,043

2.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 ₫27.5K

$0.84 COP 2,885

25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₫13.6K

$0.86 COP 2,931

-39.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.32 ₫34.7K

$2.26 COP 7,753

-41.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.44 ₫195.3K

$11.60 COP 39.8K

-35.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₫22.2K

$1.20 COP 4,109

-29.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₫43.1K

$2.48 COP 8,484

-33.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 ₫9,085

$0.79 COP 2,721

-55.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.40 ₫167.8K

$40.83 COP 139.9K

-84.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 ₫23.7K

$1.47 COP 5,023

-38.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 ₫19.6K

$1.92 COP 6,568

-60.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 ₫71.2K

$7.77 COP 26.6K

-65.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 ₫23.4K

$1.01 COP 3,464

-11.88%

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

$26.6K ₫696.9M

$17.7K COP 60.5M

50.42%

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

$28.0K ₫736.0M

$26.5K COP 90.7M

6.02%

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

$67.4 ₫1.8M

$81.1 COP 277.9K

-16.92%

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

$5.98 ₫156.9K

$9.43 COP 32.3K

-36.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.43 ₫221.3K

$23.86 COP 81.8K

-64.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.66 ₫568.4K

$25.99 COP 89.1K

-16.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.50 ₫196.7K

$18.71 COP 64.1K

-59.91%

Cinema Ticket

$3.00 ₫78.8K

$4.09 COP 14.0K

-26.65%

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

$155 ₫4.1M

$315 COP 1.1M

-50.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.1K ₫342.9M

$6,022 COP 20.6M

116.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.78 ₫1.0M

$59.7 COP 204.6K

-33.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.08 ₫658.1K

$31.97 COP 109.6K

-21.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.5 ₫1.4M

$101 COP 346.9K

-48.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.3 ₫2.0M

$105 COP 360.3K

-26.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₫9.3M

$485 COP 1.7M

-27.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$247 ₫6.5M

$365 COP 1.3M

-32.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$696 ₫18.3M

$827 COP 2.8M

-15.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 ₫12.4M

$730 COP 2.5M

-35.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,245 ₫111.4M

$2,992 COP 10.3M

41.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,729 ₫45.4M

$1,314 COP 4.5M

31.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$409 ₫10.7M

$551 COP 1.9M

-25.75%

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 Dong Hoi: June 16, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $354 in Dong Hoi and $485 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 35% 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: $11.00 in Dong Hoi vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $190 per month, with Dong Hoi cheaper across the board.

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

Dong Hoi vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dong Hoi and Medellin differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($701 vs $1,028 including rent). Dong Hoi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Medellin earns 35% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $354 in Dong Hoi versus $485 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $701 per month in Dong Hoi versus $1,028 in Medellin – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dong Hoi runs roughly 538% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $701 in Dong Hoi versus $1,028 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dong Hoi but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Dong Hoi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Dong Hoi 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.

Expats usually find Dong Hoi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.