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: $753 in Duitama versus $1,003 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,112 in Duitama versus $1,573 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,471 in Duitama versus $2,143 in Medellin.

Living in Duitama costs roughly 25% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Duitama 43% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.19 COP 10.1K

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-46.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.43 COP 61.2K

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-41.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.76 COP 21.3K

$7.43 COP 23.4K

-9.02%

Cappuccino

$1.35 COP 4,257

$1.65 COP 5,207

-18.18%

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

$0.75 COP 2,356

$1.10 COP 3,468

-31.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 COP 1,720

$0.78 COP 2,458

-29.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 COP 4,415

$1.72 COP 5,412

-18.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 COP 6,332

$3.18 COP 10.0K

-36.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 COP 3,685

$1.10 COP 3,474

6.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 COP 3,339

$1.26 COP 3,962

-15.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 COP 3,776

$1.38 COP 4,349

-13.04%

Eggs

$2.22 COP 7,000

$2.18 COP 6,858

1.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.07 COP 12.8K

$4.49 COP 14.1K

-9.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.95 COP 18.7K

$5.79 COP 18.2K

2.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.29 COP 22.9K

$8.97 COP 28.2K

-18.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.51 COP 7,899

$2.32 COP 7,308

8.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 COP 3,829

$1.06 COP 3,352

15.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.88 COP 2,781

$1.52 COP 4,774

-42.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 COP 2,836

$1.36 COP 4,270

-33.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 COP 3,948

$1.13 COP 3,552

10.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 COP 3,241

$1.17 COP 3,689

-11.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 COP 2,870

$0.90 COP 2,838

1.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 COP 2,357

$0.90 COP 2,823

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.75 COP 5,501

$2.23 COP 7,034

-21.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.15 COP 28.8K

$12.12 COP 38.2K

-24.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 COP 2,621

$1.19 COP 3,743

-30.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 COP 4,671

$2.48 COP 7,815

-40.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 COP 2,253

$0.85 COP 2,687

-15.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.29 COP 95.4K

$41.62 COP 131.0K

-27.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 COP 5,525

$1.42 COP 4,459

23.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 COP 4,830

$1.95 COP 6,141

-21.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.18 COP 19.5K

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-21.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

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

$19.2K COP 60.4M

$17.6K COP 55.4M

9.06%

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

$27.8K COP 87.6M

$26.8K COP 84.4M

3.80%

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

$71.8 COP 225.9K

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-13.55%

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

$8.76 COP 27.6K

$9.70 COP 30.5K

-9.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.01 COP 37.8K

$23.52 COP 74.1K

-48.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.65 COP 74.5K

$25.26 COP 79.5K

-6.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$2.37 COP 7,463

$3.95 COP 12.4K

-40.00%

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

$234 COP 736.1K

$316 COP 994.2K

-25.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,476 COP 7.8M

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-58.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.0 COP 204.7K

$60.0 COP 188.9K

8.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.70 COP 103.0K

$31.82 COP 100.2K

2.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.6 COP 266.4K

$102 COP 320.1K

-16.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.76 COP 118.9K

$107 COP 338.3K

-64.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$287 COP 903.4K

$475 COP 1.5M

-39.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 COP 738.3K

$374 COP 1.2M

-37.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$708 COP 2.2M

$849 COP 2.7M

-16.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$392 COP 1.2M

$719 COP 2.3M

-45.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,921 COP 6.0M

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-41.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,509 COP 4.7M

$1,441 COP 4.5M

4.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $287 in Duitama and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Duitama vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $172 vs $193 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 33% 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 $1,129 in Duitama and $1,504 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: $287 in Duitama versus $475 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $753 per month in Duitama versus $1,003 in Medellin – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Duitama runs roughly 37% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $753 in Duitama versus $1,003 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 $753 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 33% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.