🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $851 in Dourados versus $1,641 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,336 in Dourados versus $2,447 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,820 in Dourados versus $3,253 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Dourados costs roughly 48% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Dourados is 38% below, Medellin is 19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.83R$29.77
$8.04COP 24.9K
-27.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.55R$156
$48.29COP 149.7K
-36.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.96R$35.55
$9.42COP 29.2K
-26.11%
Cappuccino
$1.95R$9.97
$2.94COP 9,105
-33.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24R$6.32
$1.86COP 5,776
-33.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77R$3.94
$1.46COP 4,511
-47.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.93R$9.87
$3.21COP 9,953
-39.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97R$15.17
$5.71COP 17.7K
-47.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00R$5.13
$1.44COP 4,460
-30.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.67R$8.52
$2.40COP 7,442
-30.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20R$6.15
$1.70COP 5,265
-29.41%
Eggs
$2.14R$10.93
$2.89COP 8,960
-25.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.98R$45.84
$10.06COP 31.2K
-10.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.10R$20.93
$9.97COP 30.9K
-58.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.27R$42.24
$14.20COP 44.0K
-41.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.12R$10.82
$3.98COP 12.3K
-46.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.25R$6.40
$1.58COP 4,913
-20.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.18R$6.03
$2.15COP 6,671
-45.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56R$7.99
$2.30COP 7,129
-32.17%
Potato(1kg)
$1.21R$6.18
$2.00COP 6,213
-39.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.09R$5.55
$1.51COP 4,679
-27.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.82R$4.20
$1.20COP 3,727
-31.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81R$4.12
$1.28COP 3,974
-36.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.43R$12.38
$3.84COP 11.9K
-36.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92R$40.43
$14.01COP 43.4K
-43.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19R$6.10
$1.71COP 5,294
-30.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11R$10.79
$2.74COP 8,500
-22.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.00R$5.10
$1.25COP 3,861
-20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.36R$216
$77.9COP 241.5K
-45.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.23R$6.30
$1.31COP 4,045
-6.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.86R$4.37
$2.17COP 6,728
-60.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.86R$40.11
$8.29COP 25.7K
-5.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22R$6.22
$1.36COP 4,202
-10.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7KR$115.9K
$27.5KCOP 85.2M
-17.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9KR$163.0K
$36.5KCOP 113.2M
-12.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$72.2R$369
$169COP 523.0K
-57.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.27R$62.6
$13.57COP 42.1K
-9.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.17R$103
$28.32COP 87.8K
-28.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.78R$127
$45.71COP 141.7K
-45.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.50R$135
$17.22COP 53.4K
53.89%
Cinema Ticket
$7.11R$36.27
$6.65COP 20.6K
6.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$286R$1,460
$803COP 2.5M
-64.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,418R$37.9K
$9,190COP 28.5M
-19.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8R$270
$87.4COP 270.8K
-39.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.50R$248
$59.4COP 184.0K
-18.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.5R$467
$139COP 430.5K
-34.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.6R$355
$102COP 316.3K
-31.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$338R$1,723
$1,071COP 3.3M
-68.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$233R$1,189
$653COP 2.0M
-64.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$635R$3,243
$1,925COP 6.0M
-67.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$453R$2,311
$1,048COP 3.2M
-56.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,596R$8,147
$4,123COP 12.8M
-61.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,129R$5,763
$1,697COP 5.3M
-33.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$655COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.12
10.94
1.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dourados: September 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $338 in Dourados and $1,071 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $31.00 in Dourados vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $300 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 93% 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 and in Medellin?
You'd need roughly $1,277 in Dourados and $2,462 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 compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $338 in Dourados versus $1,071 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Dourados or in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 60% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Dourados and in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Dourados – a meal for two runs $31.00 versus $48.00 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 in Medellin?
At $851 in Dourados versus $1,641 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 $851 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 93% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.