😐A single person spends $1,193 per month in Douliu vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,979 per month in Douliu vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,766 per month in Douliu vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Douliu costs about 16% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Douliu and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Douliu11% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Douliu
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.96NT$128
$6.16COP 20.1K
-35.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.27NT$752
$32.60COP 106.1K
-28.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.68NT$184
$7.34COP 23.9K
-22.62%
Cappuccino
$3.93NT$127
$1.72COP 5,600
128.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13NT$36.41
$1.05COP 3,420
7.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75NT$24.22
$0.77COP 2,515
-2.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37NT$109
$1.69COP 5,488
99.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30NT$107
$3.17COP 10.3K
4.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Douliu
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.11NT$101
$1.05COP 3,423
196.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88NT$60.8
$1.30COP 4,236
44.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.04NT$98.3
$1.40COP 4,544
117.14%
Eggs
$2.83NT$91.3
$2.16COP 7,047
31.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.91NT$643
$4.39COP 14.3K
353.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.15NT$328
$5.88COP 19.1K
72.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.37NT$658
$8.64COP 28.1K
135.76%
Apples(1kg)
$5.19NT$168
$2.28COP 7,426
127.63%
Banana(1kg)
$2.99NT$96.7
$1.11COP 3,604
169.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.81NT$90.7
$1.53COP 4,983
83.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.26NT$138
$1.35COP 4,410
215.56%
Potato(1kg)
$2.93NT$94.7
$1.13COP 3,674
159.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28NT$73.7
$1.13COP 3,692
101.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.99NT$64.2
$0.85COP 2,753
134.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32NT$42.67
$0.91COP 2,975
45.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10NT$132
$2.34COP 7,630
75.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.87NT$448
$12.37COP 40.3K
12.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73NT$56.0
$1.20COP 3,909
44.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40NT$77.4
$2.49COP 8,104
-3.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Douliu
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84NT$27.12
$0.84COP 2,728
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.03NT$1,261
$40.57COP 132.1K
-3.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.90NT$93.6
$1.42COP 4,623
104.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.79NT$25.46
$1.92COP 6,235
-58.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.08NT$326
$7.66COP 24.9K
31.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.04NT$33.56
$0.99COP 3,223
5.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1KNT$1.2M
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
111.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1KNT$907.5K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
5.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Douliu
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.5NT$2,730
$80.8COP 263.1K
4.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.83NT$608
$9.95COP 32.4K
89.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.75NT$800
$24.18COP 78.7K
2.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Douliu
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.63NT$1,184
$25.08COP 81.7K
46.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.17NT$490
$19.15COP 62.3K
-20.78%
Cinema Ticket
$11.96NT$386
$3.98COP 13.0K
200.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Douliu
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$643NT$20.8K
$305COP 993.5K
110.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.8KNT$608.4K
$6,059COP 19.7M
210.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Douliu
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.0NT$1,908
$58.1COP 189.2K
1.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.23NT$1,074
$32.20COP 104.8K
3.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6NT$3,023
$101COP 327.9K
-7.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120NT$3,883
$108COP 350.8K
11.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Douliu
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$429NT$13.8K
$477COP 1.6M
-10.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$292NT$9,447
$376COP 1.2M
-22.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,050NT$33.9K
$845COP 2.7M
24.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$737NT$23.8K
$730COP 2.4M
0.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,223NT$233.4K
$3,215COP 10.5M
124.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,904NT$158.5K
$1,372COP 4.5M
257.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Douliu
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,578NT$83.3K
$617COP 2.0M
317.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.19
13.43
-83.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Douliu: July 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $429 in Douliu 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 318% higher in Douliu, 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 $23.00 in Douliu versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $400 in Douliu vs $193 in Medellin – so Medellin 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
Douliu vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Douliu or Medellin?
Douliu costs about 16% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Douliu and in Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,789 per month in Douliu and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Douliu or Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Douliu and in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Douliu and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Douliu compared to Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,193 in Douliu and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Douliu or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Douliu at $1,193. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Douliu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Douliu or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,031 versus $1,193 in Douliu. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Douliu compared to 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.
Should I move to Douliu or to Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Douliu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.