Cost of Living Comparison Between Duluth, MN and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Duluth, MN and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,238 per month in Duluth, MN vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,552 per month in Duluth, MN vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,866 per month in Duluth, MN vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Duluth, MN costs about 121% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Duluth, MN sits 67% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Duluth, MN
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.03 $18.03
$5.99 COP 21.4K
201.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.9 $64.9
$32.86 COP 117.2K
97.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.81 $9.81
$7.09 COP 25.3K
38.36%
Cappuccino
$5.54 $5.54
$1.71 COP 6,105
223.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 $2.61
$1.10 COP 3,918
137.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$0.78 COP 2,776
134.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.33 $6.33
$1.68 COP 5,987
276.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.02 $7.02
$3.07 COP 10.9K
128.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Duluth, MN
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.90 $0.90
$1.09 COP 3,899
-17.43%
White Bread (500g)
$2.88 $2.88
$1.26 COP 4,500
128.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.38 COP 4,914
169.57%
Eggs
$4.07 $4.07
$2.19 COP 7,813
85.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.23 $11.23
$4.40 COP 15.7K
155.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.09 $11.09
$5.63 COP 20.1K
96.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.81 $17.81
$8.89 COP 31.7K
100.34%
Apples (1kg)
$6.41 $6.41
$2.34 COP 8,334
173.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.06 COP 3,771
47.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.73 $7.73
$1.50 COP 5,365
415.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.70 $5.70
$1.38 COP 4,915
313.04%
Potato (1kg)
$3.20 $3.20
$1.15 COP 4,104
178.26%
Onion (1kg)
$3.80 $3.80
$1.16 COP 4,148
227.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 $1.12
$0.89 COP 3,176
25.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$0.84 COP 2,992
155.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.81 $10.81
$2.28 COP 8,131
374.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.27 $16.27
$10.64 COP 37.9K
52.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$1.20 COP 4,276
45.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97 $3.97
$2.47 COP 8,809
60.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Duluth, MN
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.19 $2.19
$0.86 COP 3,051
154.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.30 $40.30
$41.40 COP 147.6K
-2.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.22 $4.22
$1.47 COP 5,255
187.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.96 COP 6,997
-15.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.03 $24.03
$7.74 COP 27.6K
210.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$0.95 COP 3,403
-8.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4K $22.4K
$18.1K COP 64.6M
23.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K $24.0K
$26.5K COP 94.4M
-9.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Duluth, MN
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 $161
$82.3 COP 293.2K
96.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.08 $43.08
$9.50 COP 33.9K
353.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.3 $69.3
$24.23 COP 86.4K
185.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Duluth, MN
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.4 $62.4
$25.89 COP 92.3K
141.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.40 $26.40
$19.00 COP 67.7K
38.95%
Cinema Ticket
$14.81 $14.81
$3.93 COP 14.0K
276.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Duluth, MN
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,054 $1,054
$309 COP 1.1M
240.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.1K $10.1K
$5,965 COP 21.3M
69.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Duluth, MN
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.7 $63.7
$58.7 COP 209.1K
8.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.10 $44.10
$32.35 COP 115.3K
36.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.4 $90.4
$103 COP 365.7K
-11.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 $117
$108 COP 386.5K
8.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Duluth, MN
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,178 $1,178
$476 COP 1.7M
147.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$913 $913
$379 COP 1.4M
140.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,270 $2,270
$838 COP 3.0M
170.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,983 $1,983
$724 COP 2.6M
173.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,412 $2,412
$2,791 COP 9.9M
-13.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 $2,264
$1,211 COP 4.3M
86.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Duluth, MN
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,754 $3,754
$512 COP 1.8M
633.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.37
13.43
-52.57%

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

Last update for Duluth, MN: June 2, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,178 in Duluth, MN versus $476 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 634% higher in Duluth, MN, 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 $65.0 in Duluth, MN versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $409 vs $188 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Duluth, MN vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Duluth, MN?
Yes – Duluth, MN is pricier by about 121%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,356 per month in Duluth, MN and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Duluth, MN vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,238 in Duluth, MN and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 3% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Duluth, MN or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Duluth, MN at $2,238. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Duluth, MN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Duluth, MN or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Duluth, MN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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