Cost of Living Comparison Between Duitama and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Duitama and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $755 in Duitama versus $1,034 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,127 in Duitama versus $1,577 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,500 in Duitama versus $2,120 in Medellin.

Living in Duitama costs roughly 27% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Duitama 44% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.18 COP 11.5K

$5.92 COP 21.4K

-46.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.73 COP 71.2K

$32.75 COP 118.2K

-39.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.59 COP 23.8K

$7.20 COP 26.0K

-8.47%

Cappuccino

$1.29 COP 4,665

$1.70 COP 6,140

-24.12%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 COP 2,541

$1.10 COP 3,966

-36.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 COP 2,004

$0.72 COP 2,605

-22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.42 COP 5,112

$1.67 COP 6,022

-14.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 COP 7,383

$3.10 COP 11.2K

-33.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 COP 4,239

$1.06 COP 3,809

10.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 COP 3,994

$1.25 COP 4,497

-11.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 COP 4,323

$1.39 COP 5,022

-13.67%

Eggs

$2.22 COP 7,998

$2.26 COP 8,168

-1.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.09 COP 14.8K

$4.33 COP 15.6K

-5.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.87 COP 21.2K

$5.84 COP 21.1K

0.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.47 COP 27.0K

$8.83 COP 31.9K

-15.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.50 COP 9,009

$2.24 COP 8,099

11.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 COP 4,417

$1.08 COP 3,882

12.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.84 COP 3,041

$1.53 COP 5,522

-45.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.86 COP 3,113

$1.37 COP 4,950

-37.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 COP 4,361

$1.13 COP 4,078

7.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 COP 3,690

$1.12 COP 4,036

-8.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 COP 3,308

$0.85 COP 3,057

8.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,653

$0.91 COP 3,281

-19.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.67 COP 6,030

$2.33 COP 8,414

-28.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.22 COP 29.7K

$11.13 COP 40.2K

-26.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 3,022

$1.19 COP 4,309

-29.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 5,439

$2.37 COP 8,553

-36.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.67 COP 2,419

$0.79 COP 2,838

-15.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.20 COP 109.0K

$41.13 COP 148.5K

-26.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 COP 6,257

$1.44 COP 5,184

20.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 COP 5,568

$1.91 COP 6,901

-19.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 COP 21.6K

$8.02 COP 28.9K

-25.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,387

$0.94 COP 3,385

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.4K COP 70.0M

$17.9K COP 64.7M

8.13%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.5K COP 99.2M

$26.8K COP 96.7M

2.61%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$72.2 COP 260.5K

$84.0 COP 303.1K

-14.07%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.90 COP 32.1K

$9.60 COP 34.7K

-7.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.99 COP 43.3K

$24.16 COP 87.2K

-50.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.68 COP 85.5K

$25.88 COP 93.4K

-8.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

Cinema Ticket

$2.40 COP 8,664

$3.92 COP 14.1K

-38.78%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$240 COP 867.3K

$306 COP 1.1M

-21.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,469 COP 8.9M

$5,919 COP 21.4M

-58.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.0 COP 238.1K

$57.9 COP 209.1K

13.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.22 COP 116.3K

$31.82 COP 114.9K

1.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.2 COP 304.1K

$99.9 COP 360.6K

-15.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.15 COP 137.7K

$107 COP 386.8K

-64.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 COP 999.8K

$487 COP 1.8M

-43.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 COP 870.9K

$368 COP 1.3M

-34.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$711 COP 2.6M

$826 COP 3.0M

-13.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 COP 1.4M

$716 COP 2.6M

-45.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,858 COP 6.7M

$2,925 COP 10.6M

-36.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,296 COP 4.7M

$1,407 COP 5.1M

-7.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

15.25

13.43

13.55%

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

Last update for Duitama: April 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $277 in Duitama and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $20.00 in Duitama vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $170 vs $190 per month, with Duitama 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

Duitama vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Duitama wins on cost – living expenses run 37% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Duitama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,132 in Duitama and $1,550 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $277 in Duitama versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $755 per month in Duitama versus $1,034 in Medellin – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Duitama runs roughly 36% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $755 in Duitama versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Duitama but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Duitama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Duitama delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $755 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Duitama hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Duitama 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.

Expats usually find Duitama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.