🙂A single person spends $900 per month in Duncans vs $1,018 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,459 per month in Duncans vs $1,609 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,018 per month in Duncans vs $2,200 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Duncans is about 12% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Duncans and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Duncans33% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Duncans
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.42JMD 1,168
$5.93COP 19.1K
25.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.4JMD 9,821
$33.12COP 106.5K
88.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.78JMD 1,383
$7.12COP 22.9K
23.31%
Cappuccino
$4.30JMD 678
$1.71COP 5,484
151.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30JMD 205
$1.05COP 3,373
23.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70JMD 111
$0.72COP 2,323
-2.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.56JMD 403
$1.72COP 5,529
48.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09JMD 486
$3.17COP 10.2K
-2.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Duncans
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.19JMD 659
$1.06COP 3,425
295.28%
White Bread(500g)
$3.59JMD 566
$1.31COP 4,213
174.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62JMD 256
$1.33COP 4,277
21.80%
Eggs
$3.43JMD 540
$2.28COP 7,334
50.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.25JMD 1,772
$4.42COP 14.2K
154.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.32JMD 996
$5.92COP 19.0K
6.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.56JMD 1,190
$8.64COP 27.8K
-12.50%
Apples(1kg)
$5.88JMD 926
$2.34COP 7,541
151.28%
Banana(1kg)
$3.09JMD 486
$1.10COP 3,544
180.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.18JMD 659
$1.47COP 4,721
184.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.06JMD 481
$1.38COP 4,437
121.74%
Potato(1kg)
$2.11JMD 332
$1.17COP 3,772
80.34%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03JMD 319
$1.17COP 3,763
73.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.13JMD 492
$0.90COP 2,904
247.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51JMD 237
$0.84COP 2,707
79.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.53JMD 1,344
$2.33COP 7,486
266.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.47JMD 1,806
$11.92COP 38.3K
-3.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75JMD 433
$1.15COP 3,692
139.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11JMD 490
$2.42COP 7,787
28.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Duncans
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.84COP 2,700
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$40.83COP 131.3K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.07JMD 169
$1.41COP 4,539
-24.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.22JMD 507
$1.91COP 6,157
68.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.43JMD 1,013
$7.83COP 25.2K
-17.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23JMD 193
$0.94COP 3,035
30.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.3KJMD 6.8M
$17.8KCOP 57.3M
142.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3KJMD 5.2M
$27.1KCOP 87.1M
23.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Duncans
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$161JMD 25.3K
$83.3COP 267.8K
93.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.75JMD 3,425
$9.66COP 31.1K
125.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.3JMD 8,082
$24.22COP 77.9K
111.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Duncans
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.22COP 81.1K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.33COP 62.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.28JMD 2,092
$4.07COP 13.1K
226.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Duncans
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$222JMD 35.0K
$307COP 986.0K
-27.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,499JMD 393.6K
$5,981COP 19.2M
-58.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Duncans
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.79JMD 4,062
$60.0COP 192.8K
-56.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.46JMD 4,010
$32.65COP 105.0K
-22.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.5JMD 11.1K
$101COP 325.1K
-30.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.4JMD 12.2K
$108COP 347.5K
-28.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Duncans
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$476COP 1.5M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$379COP 1.2M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$816COP 2.6M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$707COP 2.3M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,190COP 10.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,446COP 4.7M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Duncans
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$622COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
13.43
-31.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Duncans: July 19, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Duncans versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $192 – 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
Duncans vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Duncans?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 13%, 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 $1,349 per month in Duncans and $1,527 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Duncans and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $900 in Duncans and $1,018 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $222 per month in Duncans and $307 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Duncans or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Duncans, where all-in costs run around $900, than in Medellin at $1,018. In Duncans it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Duncans or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Duncans – 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 Duncans. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.