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: $519 in Duma versus $1,013 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $796 in Duma versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,074 in Duma versus $2,192 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 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.98 SYP 661

$5.99 COP 21.4K

-0.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.51 SYP 3,040

$32.86 COP 117.4K

-16.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.49 SYP 606

$7.09 COP 25.3K

-22.57%

Cappuccino

$1.56 SYP 172

$1.71 COP 6,115

-8.77%

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

$1.13 SYP 125

$1.10 COP 3,924

2.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 SYP 76.0

$0.78 COP 2,781

-11.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.62 SYP 179

$1.68 COP 5,997

-3.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 SYP 273

$3.07 COP 11.0K

-19.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 SYP 113

$1.09 COP 3,906

-6.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 SYP 65.9

$1.26 COP 4,508

-52.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 SYP 188

$1.38 COP 4,922

23.19%

Eggs

$1.86 SYP 206

$2.19 COP 7,827

-15.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.01 SYP 332

$4.40 COP 15.7K

-31.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.72 SYP 853

$5.63 COP 20.1K

37.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.26 SYP 1,244

$8.89 COP 31.8K

26.66%

Apples (1kg)

$0.88 SYP 97.0

$2.34 COP 8,349

-62.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 SYP 190

$1.06 COP 3,777

62.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 SYP 114

$1.50 COP 5,374

-31.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.96 SYP 106

$1.38 COP 4,924

-30.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 SYP 68.0

$1.15 COP 4,111

-46.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 SYP 72.8

$1.16 COP 4,155

-43.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 SYP 41.55

$0.89 COP 3,182

-57.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 SYP 68.9

$0.84 COP 2,997

-26.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.02 SYP 334

$2.28 COP 8,145

32.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.94 SYP 656

$10.64 COP 38.0K

-44.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 SYP 112

$1.20 COP 4,284

-15.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 SYP 203

$2.47 COP 8,824

-25.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 SYP 109

$1.47 COP 5,264

-32.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 SYP 136

$1.96 COP 7,009

-37.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.38 SYP 705

$7.74 COP 27.6K

-17.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.76 SYP 415

$0.95 COP 3,409

295.79%

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

$18.6K SYP 2.1M

$18.1K COP 64.7M

2.71%

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

$21.0K SYP 2.3M

$26.5K COP 94.6M

-20.66%

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

$100 SYP 11.1K

$82.3 COP 293.7K

21.85%

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

$8.60 SYP 950

$9.50 COP 33.9K

-9.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.2 SYP 6,102

$24.23 COP 86.5K

127.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.02 SYP 334

$3.93 COP 14.0K

-23.16%

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

$43.19 SYP 4,773

$309 COP 1.1M

-86.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,854 SYP 204.8K

$5,965 COP 21.3M

-68.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.12 SYP 3,218

$58.7 COP 209.5K

-50.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.61 SYP 2,830

$32.35 COP 115.5K

-20.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.12 SYP 4,986

$103 COP 366.4K

-56.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 SYP 6,184

$108 COP 387.2K

-48.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $28.00 in Duma vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $168 vs $188 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 95% 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 $778 in Duma and $1,519 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 12% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $519 per month in Duma versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 95% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $519 in Duma versus $1,013 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 $519 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 95% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.