🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $783 in Dourados versus $1,018 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,235 in Dourados versus $1,609 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,687 in Dourados versus $2,200 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Dourados costs roughly 23% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Dourados41% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.55R$28.16
$5.93COP 19.1K
-6.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.36R$139
$33.12COP 106.5K
-17.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.13R$31.13
$7.12COP 22.9K
-13.90%
Cappuccino
$1.74R$8.86
$1.71COP 5,484
1.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08R$5.49
$1.05COP 3,373
2.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66R$3.33
$0.72COP 2,323
-8.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.85R$9.41
$1.72COP 5,529
7.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66R$13.51
$3.17COP 10.2K
-16.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00R$5.08
$1.06COP 3,425
-5.66%
White Bread(500g)
$1.49R$7.57
$1.31COP 4,213
13.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18R$6.01
$1.33COP 4,277
-11.28%
Eggs
$1.96R$9.96
$2.28COP 7,334
-14.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.19R$41.55
$4.42COP 14.2K
85.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63R$18.42
$5.92COP 19.0K
-38.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.09R$35.98
$8.64COP 27.8K
-17.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.07R$10.49
$2.34COP 7,541
-11.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26R$6.41
$1.10COP 3,544
14.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.20R$6.11
$1.47COP 4,721
-18.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.47R$7.44
$1.38COP 4,437
6.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14R$5.79
$1.17COP 3,772
-2.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10R$5.59
$1.17COP 3,763
-5.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69R$3.51
$0.90COP 2,904
-23.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65R$3.32
$0.84COP 2,707
-22.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.16R$10.98
$2.33COP 7,486
-7.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.35R$37.31
$11.92COP 38.3K
-38.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22R$6.19
$1.15COP 3,692
6.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07R$10.51
$2.42COP 7,787
-14.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.87R$4.41
$0.84COP 2,700
3.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$37.78R$192
$40.83COP 131.3K
-7.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11R$5.62
$1.41COP 4,539
-21.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71R$3.60
$1.91COP 6,157
-62.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.54R$33.19
$7.83COP 25.2K
-16.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08R$5.47
$0.94COP 3,035
14.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0KR$106.5K
$17.8KCOP 57.3M
17.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7KR$140.5K
$27.1KCOP 87.1M
2.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.9R$304
$83.3COP 267.8K
-28.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.75R$69.8
$9.66COP 31.1K
42.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.68R$94.8
$24.22COP 77.9K
-22.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.32R$113
$25.22COP 81.1K
-11.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.83R$111
$19.33COP 62.2K
12.93%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18R$31.36
$4.07COP 13.1K
51.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$271R$1,374
$307COP 986.0K
-11.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,463R$32.8K
$5,981COP 19.2M
8.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.24R$250
$60.0COP 192.8K
-17.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.89R$213
$32.65COP 105.0K
28.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.2R$382
$101COP 325.1K
-25.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.9R$330
$108COP 347.5K
-39.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$315R$1,598
$476COP 1.5M
-33.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$219R$1,114
$379COP 1.2M
-42.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$573R$2,909
$816COP 2.6M
-29.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433R$2,196
$707COP 2.3M
-38.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,686R$8,559
$3,190COP 10.3M
-47.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,074R$5,449
$1,446COP 4.7M
-25.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dourados
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$622COP 2.0M
-
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: July 22, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $315 in Dourados and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $27.00 in Dourados vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $192 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 30% 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 $1,175 in Dourados and $1,527 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: $315 in Dourados versus $476 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 11% 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 $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 in Medellin?
At $783 in Dourados versus $1,018 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 $783 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 30% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.