Cost of Living Comparison Between Duma and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Duma and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $521 in Duma versus $1,031 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $821 in Duma versus $1,599 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,122 in Duma versus $2,167 in Medellin.

Living in Duma costs roughly 49% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Duma 61% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.90 SYP 717

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-4.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.28 SYP 3,315

$32.60 COP 106.1K

-16.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.34 SYP 648

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-27.25%

Cappuccino

$1.57 SYP 190

$1.72 COP 5,600

-8.72%

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

$1.17 SYP 142

$1.05 COP 3,420

11.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 SYP 88.8

$0.77 COP 2,515

-5.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.65 SYP 200

$1.69 COP 5,488

-2.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 SYP 307

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-20.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 SYP 119

$1.05 COP 3,423

-6.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 SYP 71.7

$1.30 COP 4,236

-54.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 SYP 212

$1.40 COP 4,544

25.00%

Eggs

$1.92 SYP 233

$2.16 COP 7,047

-11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.14 SYP 382

$4.39 COP 14.3K

-28.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.79 SYP 946

$5.88 COP 19.1K

32.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.49 SYP 1,396

$8.64 COP 28.1K

32.99%

Apples (1kg)

$0.86 SYP 104

$2.28 COP 7,426

-62.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 SYP 209

$1.11 COP 3,604

54.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 SYP 126

$1.53 COP 4,983

-32.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.95 SYP 116

$1.35 COP 4,410

-29.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 SYP 74.5

$1.13 COP 3,674

-46.02%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 SYP 80.5

$1.13 COP 3,692

-41.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 SYP 49.11

$0.85 COP 2,753

-52.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 SYP 75.1

$0.91 COP 2,975

-31.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.08 SYP 374

$2.34 COP 7,630

31.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.13 SYP 988

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-34.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 SYP 119

$1.20 COP 3,909

-18.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 SYP 225

$2.49 COP 8,104

-25.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,728

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 SYP 120

$1.42 COP 4,623

-30.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 SYP 149

$1.92 COP 6,235

-36.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.62 SYP 805

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-13.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.77 SYP 458

$0.99 COP 3,223

280.81%

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

$18.6K SYP 2.3M

$18.0K COP 58.7M

3.36%

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

$21.1K SYP 2.6M

$26.6K COP 86.7M

-20.71%

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

$103 SYP 12.5K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

26.89%

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

$8.58 SYP 1,043

$9.95 COP 32.4K

-13.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.8 SYP 6,661

$24.18 COP 78.7K

126.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.09 SYP 375

$3.98 COP 13.0K

-22.36%

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

$42.91 SYP 5,215

$305 COP 993.5K

-85.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,824 SYP 221.7K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-69.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.66 SYP 3,605

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-48.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.49 SYP 3,098

$32.20 COP 104.8K

-20.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.19 SYP 5,370

$101 COP 327.9K

-56.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.6 SYP 6,753

$108 COP 350.8K

-48.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.75

13.43

2.38%

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

Last update for Duma: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $27.00 in Duma vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $193 per month, with Duma cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Duma vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Duma wins on cost – living expenses run 98% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Duma the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $782 in Duma and $1,546 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $521 per month in Duma versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 98% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $521 in Duma versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Duma but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Duma the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Duma delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $521 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Duma hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Duma 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 Duma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.