Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dublin and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,589 a month against $3,734 in Dublin, rent and utilities included – about $25,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Dublin
🇮🇪 Ireland
$3,734
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dublin and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Dublin and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,734 per month in Dublin vs $1,589 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Dublin $3,734
  • Medellin $1,589

A couple spends around $5,273 per month in Dublin vs $2,364 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Dublin $5,273
  • Medellin $2,364

A family of three spends $6,811 per month in Dublin vs $3,139 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Dublin $6,811
  • Medellin $3,139

Dublin costs about 135% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Dublin and Medellin sit above the global median – Dublin by 179%, Medellin by 19%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dublin
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.89 €21.30
$8.01 COP 25.8K
198.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 €90.5
$46.55 COP 149.9K
118.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.62 €12.15
$9.43 COP 30.4K
44.43%
Cappuccino
$4.90 €4.37
$2.91 COP 9,374
68.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 €2.57
$1.75 COP 5,643
64.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 €1.92
$1.32 COP 4,263
63.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.64 €6.82
$3.13 COP 10.1K
144.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.47 €6.66
$5.55 COP 17.9K
34.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dublin
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 €1.50
$1.41 COP 4,542
19.15%
White Bread (500g)
$2.44 €2.17
$2.44 COP 7,858
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.05 €1.82
$1.63 COP 5,245
25.77%
Eggs
$4.86 €4.34
$2.82 COP 9,084
72.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.03 €8.94
$9.69 COP 31.2K
3.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.98 €11.58
$9.32 COP 30.0K
39.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.31 €14.54
$13.46 COP 43.3K
21.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 €2.54
$4.00 COP 12.9K
-28.75%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 €1.94
$1.48 COP 4,768
47.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.68 €2.39
$2.12 COP 6,839
26.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.39 €4.81
$2.25 COP 7,253
139.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 €1.66
$1.91 COP 6,155
-2.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 €1.33
$1.62 COP 5,214
-7.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 €1.16
$1.15 COP 3,696
13.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 €1.81
$1.26 COP 4,063
61.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$21.45 €19.13
$3.82 COP 12.3K
461.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.70 €12.22
$13.11 COP 42.2K
4.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.34 €2.98
$1.60 COP 5,136
108.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 €3.19
$2.26 COP 7,263
58.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Dublin
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.29 €2.04
$1.17 COP 3,770
95.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$106 €94.8
$75.0 COP 241.5K
41.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.30 €4.72
$1.27 COP 4,098
317.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 €1.38
$2.05 COP 6,600
-24.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$37.18 €33.15
$8.20 COP 26.4K
353.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.16 €1.92
$1.27 COP 4,088
70.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K €34.8K
$26.8K COP 86.2M
45.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K €35.3K
$34.4K COP 110.8M
15.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dublin
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$276 €246
$162 COP 522.3K
69.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.01 €16.06
$13.12 COP 42.3K
37.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.0 €46.38
$28.09 COP 90.5K
85.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dublin
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.8 €61.4
$44.33 COP 142.7K
55.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99 €18.71
$16.33 COP 52.6K
28.54%
Cinema Ticket
$16.00 €14.27
$6.09 COP 19.6K
162.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dublin
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,296 €1,155
$764 COP 2.5M
69.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.3K €12.7K
$8,904 COP 28.7M
60.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dublin
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107 €95.5
$85.0 COP 273.6K
26.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.2 €44.73
$57.5 COP 185.1K
-12.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 €100
$132 COP 424.2K
-14.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 €118
$95.8 COP 308.3K
38.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dublin
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,465 €2,197
$1,028 COP 3.3M
139.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,179 €1,943
$604 COP 1.9M
260.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,492 €4,005
$1,802 COP 5.8M
149.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,520 €3,139
$993 COP 3.2M
254.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,511 €8,480
$3,921 COP 12.6M
142.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,656 €5,043
$1,639 COP 5.3M
245.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dublin
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,795 €3,384
$626 COP 2.0M
506.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.82
10.94
-65.08%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Dublin: October 3, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Dublin
$2.2K
Medellin
$604 72.3% $1.6K
Groceries & Markets
Dublin
$367
Medellin
$288 21.4% $79
Eating Out
Dublin
$364
Medellin
$166 54.3% $198
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dublin
$346
Medellin
$203 41.1% $142
Clothing & Footwear
Dublin
$181
Medellin
$166 8% $14
Getting Around
Dublin
$129
Medellin
$91 29% $37
Sport & Entertainment
Dublin
$101
Medellin
$57 44% $44

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,465 in Dublin versus $1,028 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 506% higher in Dublin, 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 $102 in Dublin versus $47.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $367 vs $288 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇪 Dublin
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
01:33 1:33 AM
19:33 7:33 PM
6 h behind Dublin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
588,233 Capital
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3,220 COP (10,000 COP = 3.11 USD). 1 EUR = 3,611 COP (10,000 COP = 2.77 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Dublin Medellin 8,090 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Dublin
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Dublin vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Dublin and in Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,734 in Dublin, $1,589 in Medellin – roughly 135% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Dublin compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,601 per month in Dublin and $2,384 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Dublin and 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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Dublin and $47.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Dublin or Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,734 in Dublin and $1,589 in Medellin. That's a gap of about 135%.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,589, than in Dublin at $3,734. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dublin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Dublin and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Dublin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,589 in Medellin to $3,734 in Dublin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Dublin or Medellin safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Dublin and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dublin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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