😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,751 in Dumfries versus $1,031 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,751 in Dumfries versus $1,599 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,751 in Dumfries versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Dumfries is roughly 70% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Dumfries is 31% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dumfries
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.50£12.28
$6.16COP 20.1K
167.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.0£65.5
$32.60COP 106.1K
169.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.06£6.00
$7.34COP 23.9K
9.81%
Cappuccino
$4.02£2.99
$1.72COP 5,599
133.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32£1.73
$1.05COP 3,420
120.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35£1.00
$0.77COP 2,515
75.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.10£3.06
$1.69COP 5,487
142.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.13£3.82
$3.17COP 10.3K
61.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dumfries
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46£1.09
$1.05COP 3,423
39.05%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50£1.12
$1.30COP 4,236
15.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.55£1.90
$1.40COP 4,544
82.14%
Eggs
$3.66£2.72
$2.16COP 7,046
69.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.04£5.99
$4.39COP 14.3K
83.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.08£7.51
$5.88COP 19.1K
71.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.91£11.85
$8.64COP 28.1K
84.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.43£1.81
$2.28COP 7,425
6.58%
Banana(1kg)
$2.31£1.72
$1.11COP 3,603
108.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.36£1.76
$1.53COP 4,982
54.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.45£2.56
$1.35COP 4,410
155.56%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21£1.65
$1.13COP 3,674
95.58%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88£1.40
$1.13COP 3,692
66.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22£0.91
$0.85COP 2,753
43.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.77£1.32
$0.91COP 2,975
94.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.37£14.42
$2.34COP 7,629
727.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.51£7.83
$12.37COP 40.3K
-15.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.22£2.39
$1.20COP 3,909
168.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98£2.22
$2.49COP 8,104
19.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Dumfries
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.42£3.29
$0.84COP 2,727
426.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$97.4£72.5
$40.57COP 132.1K
139.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.48£4.08
$1.42COP 4,623
285.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52£1.13
$1.92COP 6,235
-20.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.23£10.60
$7.66COP 24.9K
85.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.97£1.46
$0.99COP 3,223
98.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K£28.4K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
111.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.4K£30.1K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
51.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dumfries
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$235£175
$80.8COP 263.1K
190.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.40£10.72
$9.95COP 32.4K
44.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.46£35.34
$24.18COP 78.7K
96.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dumfries
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.7£38.48
$25.08COP 81.6K
106.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.46£20.45
$19.15COP 62.3K
43.39%
Cinema Ticket
$12.69£9.45
$3.98COP 13.0K
218.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dumfries
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,589£1,183
$305COP 993.4K
420.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K£12.3K
$6,059COP 19.7M
172.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dumfries
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.8£70.6
$58.1COP 189.2K
63.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.9£43.84
$32.20COP 104.8K
82.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$130£96.9
$101COP 327.9K
29.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120£89.0
$108COP 350.8K
10.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dumfries
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$632£471
$477COP 1.6M
32.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$539£402
$376COP 1.2M
43.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,028£765
$845COP 2.7M
21.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$988£736
$730COP 2.4M
35.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,215COP 10.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,372COP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dumfries
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,467£2,582
$617COP 2.0M
462.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.45
13.43
-59.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dumfries: July 11, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $632 in Dumfries and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Dumfries pays 462% 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: $88.0 in Dumfries vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $309 vs $193 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, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 70% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Dumfries or Medellin?
Average pay runs 462% 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: $632 in Dumfries versus $477 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 $33.00 versus $88.0 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 $1,751 per month in Dumfries versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Dumfries or in Medellin?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,751 in Dumfries, a $1,500 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 70% less than in Dumfries. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.