🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $787 in Dourados versus $1,030 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,238 in Dourados versus $1,586 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,689 in Dourados versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Dourados costs roughly 24% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Dourados41% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.27R$26.17
$5.92COP 21.2K
-10.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.12R$135
$33.17COP 118.7K
-18.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.28R$31.19
$7.25COP 25.9K
-13.38%
Cappuccino
$1.79R$8.91
$1.71COP 6,137
4.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08R$5.36
$1.09COP 3,915
-0.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66R$3.29
$0.77COP 2,743
-14.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.85R$9.19
$1.75COP 6,254
5.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72R$13.53
$3.18COP 11.4K
-14.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01R$5.04
$1.06COP 3,792
-4.72%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52R$7.56
$1.30COP 4,657
16.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13R$5.63
$1.38COP 4,926
-18.12%
Eggs
$1.94R$9.62
$2.21COP 7,908
-12.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.06R$40.07
$4.52COP 16.2K
78.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.58R$17.78
$5.80COP 20.7K
-38.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.21R$35.82
$8.97COP 32.1K
-19.62%
Apples(1kg)
$2.15R$10.68
$2.29COP 8,182
-6.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.25R$6.19
$1.06COP 3,791
17.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.19R$5.91
$1.51COP 5,411
-21.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46R$7.26
$1.36COP 4,869
7.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19R$5.93
$1.16COP 4,146
2.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.11R$5.49
$1.17COP 4,174
-5.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74R$3.66
$0.83COP 2,960
-10.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61R$3.03
$0.85COP 3,043
-28.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.15R$10.69
$2.35COP 8,423
-8.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.27R$36.12
$11.09COP 39.7K
-34.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27R$6.30
$1.15COP 4,133
10.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04R$10.15
$2.47COP 8,853
-17.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86R$4.30
$0.79COP 2,827
8.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.33R$191
$41.85COP 149.8K
-8.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11R$5.53
$1.44COP 5,140
-22.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71R$3.52
$1.90COP 6,793
-62.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.45R$32.04
$7.70COP 27.6K
-16.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.04R$5.15
$1.03COP 3,680
0.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0KR$104.6K
$17.7KCOP 63.3M
19.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3KR$135.8K
$27.0KCOP 96.7M
1.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.8R$302
$81.4COP 291.4K
-25.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.46R$66.9
$9.42COP 33.7K
42.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.56R$92.3
$23.77COP 85.1K
-21.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.12R$110
$25.86COP 92.6K
-14.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.96R$109
$19.34COP 69.2K
13.55%
Cinema Ticket
$6.12R$30.44
$4.05COP 14.5K
51.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$272R$1,353
$312COP 1.1M
-12.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,463R$32.1K
$6,067COP 21.7M
6.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.84R$248
$58.9COP 210.7K
-15.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.84R$213
$32.82COP 117.5K
30.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.9R$377
$100COP 359.6K
-24.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.6R$326
$106COP 380.3K
-38.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$311R$1,544
$490COP 1.8M
-36.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$215R$1,068
$371COP 1.3M
-42.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$591R$2,937
$838COP 3.0M
-29.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$431R$2,145
$715COP 2.6M
-39.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,873R$9,309
$2,952COP 10.6M
-36.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,220R$6,062
$1,394COP 5.0M
-12.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$532COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.92
13.43
-18.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dourados: April 20, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $311 in Dourados and $490 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $27 in Dourados vs $33 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $190 per month, with Dourados 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
Dourados vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dourados or Medellin?
Dourados wins on cost – living expenses run 31% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dourados the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Dourados vs Medellin?
You'd need roughly $1,181 in Dourados and $1,544 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Dourados vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $311 in Dourados versus $490 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Dourados or Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Dourados vs Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Dourados – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Dourados or Medellin?
At $787 in Dourados versus $1,030 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Dourados but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Dourados the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Dourados or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Dourados delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $787 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Dourados hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Dourados gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.