🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $706 in Dubasari versus $1,013 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,089 in Dubasari versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,472 in Dubasari versus $2,192 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Dubasari costs roughly 30% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Dubasari47% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dubasari
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.03MDL 155
$5.99COP 21.4K
50.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.34MDL 625
$32.86COP 117.4K
10.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.40MDL 127
$7.09COP 25.3K
4.37%
Cappuccino
$1.89MDL 32.52
$1.71COP 6,115
10.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MDL 16.13
$1.10COP 3,924
-14.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66MDL 11.27
$0.78COP 2,781
-15.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72MDL 29.51
$1.68COP 5,997
2.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40MDL 41.19
$3.07COP 11.0K
-21.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dubasari
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28MDL 22.05
$1.09COP 3,906
17.43%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53MDL 9.03
$1.26COP 4,508
-57.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51MDL 26.02
$1.38COP 4,922
9.42%
Eggs
$2.58MDL 44.34
$2.19COP 7,827
17.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.36MDL 178
$4.40COP 15.7K
135.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.52MDL 94.9
$5.63COP 20.1K
-1.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89MDL 153
$8.89COP 31.8K
-
Apples(1kg)
$0.85MDL 14.63
$2.34COP 8,349
-63.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77MDL 30.50
$1.06COP 3,777
66.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79MDL 30.73
$1.50COP 5,374
19.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MDL 35.99
$1.38COP 4,924
51.45%
Potato(1kg)
$0.81MDL 13.99
$1.15COP 4,111
-29.57%
Onion(1kg)
$0.58MDL 10.00
$1.16COP 4,155
-50.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30MDL 22.33
$0.89COP 3,182
46.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89MDL 15.38
$0.84COP 2,997
5.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.16MDL 54.3
$2.28COP 8,145
38.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.54MDL 78.1
$10.64COP 38.0K
-57.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27MDL 21.84
$1.20COP 4,284
5.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94MDL 33.28
$2.47COP 8,824
-21.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Dubasari
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.86COP 3,056
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.40COP 147.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.00MDL 34.34
$1.47COP 5,264
36.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27MDL 4.69
$1.96COP 7,009
-86.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.31MDL 91.2
$7.74COP 27.6K
-31.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44MDL 24.71
$0.95COP 3,409
51.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KMDL 550.4K
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
76.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7KMDL 526.9K
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
15.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubasari
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170MDL 2,915
$82.3COP 293.7K
106.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.47MDL 128
$9.50COP 33.9K
-21.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.81MDL 186
$24.23COP 86.5K
-55.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dubasari
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.89COP 92.4K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.00COP 67.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.45MDL 128
$3.93COP 14.0K
89.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dubasari
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$387MDL 6,650
$309COP 1.1M
25.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,611MDL 130.8K
$5,965COP 21.3M
27.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dubasari
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.8MDL 1,147
$58.7COP 209.5K
13.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.9MDL 909
$32.35COP 115.5K
63.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MDL 1,932
$103COP 366.4K
9.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124MDL 2,131
$108COP 387.2K
14.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dubasari
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$476COP 1.7M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$379COP 1.4M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$838COP 3.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$724COP 2.6M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,791COP 10.0M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,211COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dubasari
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$512COP 1.8M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.24
13.43
-31.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dubasari: May 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Dubasari vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $191 vs $188 per month, with Medellin 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
Dubasari vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Dubasari?
Dubasari is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,059 in Dubasari and $1,519 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 do food prices compare in Dubasari and Medellin?
Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Dubasari vs Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $706 per month in Dubasari versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Dubasari or Medellin?
At $706 in Dubasari versus $1,013 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dubasari but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Dubasari the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Dubasari or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Dubasari is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Dubasari or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Dubasari 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Dubasari gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.