😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,757 in Dumfries versus $1,681 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,755 in Dumfries versus $2,445 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,754 in Dumfries versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Dumfries is roughly 5% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Dumfries28% above, Medellin23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dumfries
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.66£10.95
$8.02COP 25.0K
82.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.4£60.8
$47.87COP 149.4K
69.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.90£5.90
$9.89COP 30.8K
-20.12%
Cappuccino
$4.51£3.37
$3.13COP 9,767
44.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60£1.94
$1.91COP 5,954
36.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35£1.01
$1.51COP 4,712
-10.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.68£4.24
$3.12COP 9,747
82.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.93£4.43
$5.75COP 17.9K
3.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dumfries
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59£1.19
$1.44COP 4,509
10.42%
White Bread(500g)
$1.78£1.33
$2.49COP 7,759
-28.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.76£2.06
$1.77COP 5,535
55.93%
Eggs
$4.45£3.32
$2.96COP 9,235
50.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.89£5.90
$10.07COP 31.4K
-21.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.51£7.11
$10.12COP 31.6K
-6.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.36£11.48
$14.30COP 44.6K
7.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.45£1.83
$4.14COP 12.9K
-40.82%
Banana(1kg)
$2.25£1.68
$1.61COP 5,019
39.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.35£1.76
$2.25COP 7,007
4.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.91£2.17
$2.25COP 7,028
29.33%
Potato(1kg)
$3.12£2.33
$2.04COP 6,375
52.94%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14£1.60
$1.54COP 4,790
38.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.68£1.25
$1.17COP 3,651
43.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.08£1.55
$1.31COP 4,077
58.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$24.13£18.03
$3.90COP 12.2K
518.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.03£8.99
$14.01COP 43.7K
-14.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.29£2.46
$1.74COP 5,439
89.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22£2.41
$2.87COP 8,956
12.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Dumfries
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.23£3.16
$1.22COP 3,792
246.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$93.4£69.8
$80.5COP 251.1K
16.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.73£3.53
$1.31COP 4,084
261.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.96£0.72
$2.19COP 6,825
-56.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.10£9.05
$8.71COP 27.2K
38.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.96£1.46
$1.37COP 4,260
43.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.6K£29.6K
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
42.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K£31.1K
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
16.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dumfries
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$247£184
$177COP 553.2K
39.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.31£17.42
$13.88COP 43.3K
67.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.23£32.31
$29.72COP 92.8K
45.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dumfries
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.7£38.63
$44.88COP 140.1K
15.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.44£20.51
$17.12COP 53.4K
60.28%
Cinema Ticket
$13.70£10.24
$6.65COP 20.7K
106.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dumfries
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,952£1,458
$813COP 2.5M
140.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.5K£16.8K
$9,187COP 28.7M
144.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dumfries
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.0£61.3
$89.5COP 279.3K
-8.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.2£40.52
$59.0COP 184.0K
-8.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$127£95.1
$138COP 431.2K
-7.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.1£68.1
$102COP 318.7K
-10.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dumfries
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$622£465
$1,062COP 3.3M
-41.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$545£407
$663COP 2.1M
-17.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,027£767
$1,888COP 5.9M
-45.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$971£726
$1,027COP 3.2M
-5.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,094£3,807
$4,183COP 13.1M
21.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,011£2,998
$1,675COP 5.2M
139.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dumfries
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,610£2,698
$678COP 2.1M
432.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.41
10.94
-50.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dumfries: September 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $622 in Dumfries and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Dumfries pays 433% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $81.0 in Dumfries vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $322 vs $305 per month, with Medellin 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
Dumfries vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Dumfries?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Dumfries or Medellin?
Average pay runs 433% higher in Dumfries, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Dumfries and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $622 in Dumfries versus $1,062 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Dumfries or in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $81.0 in Dumfries. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Dumfries and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,757 per month in Dumfries versus $1,681 in Medellin – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Dumfries or in Medellin?
At $1,681 in Medellin versus $1,757 in Dumfries, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Dumfries. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Dumfries or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Dumfries, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Dumfries. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.