😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,988 in Dunfermline versus $1,013 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,861 in Dunfermline versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,734 in Dunfermline versus $2,192 in Medellin.
😐Living in Dunfermline is roughly 96% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Dunfermline is 48% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dunfermline
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.67£15.40
$5.99COP 21.3K
245.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.2£65.7
$32.86COP 116.9K
168.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.71£7.23
$7.09COP 25.2K
36.95%
Cappuccino
$4.53£3.38
$1.71COP 6,093
164.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29£1.70
$1.10COP 3,910
108.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33£0.99
$0.78COP 2,771
70.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.66£3.47
$1.68COP 5,976
177.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10£3.06
$3.07COP 10.9K
33.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dunfermline
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.04£1.52
$1.09COP 3,892
87.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45£1.08
$1.26COP 4,492
15.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.08£1.55
$1.38COP 4,905
50.72%
Eggs
$3.97£2.96
$2.19COP 7,799
81.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.04£5.99
$4.40COP 15.7K
82.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.35£5.47
$5.63COP 20.0K
30.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.20£7.60
$8.89COP 31.6K
14.74%
Apples(1kg)
$2.82£2.10
$2.34COP 8,319
20.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.25£0.93
$1.06COP 3,764
17.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.68£2.00
$1.50COP 5,355
78.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.58£3.41
$1.38COP 4,906
231.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15£0.86
$1.15COP 4,097
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.27£0.95
$1.16COP 4,141
9.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.25£0.93
$0.89COP 3,170
40.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.64£1.22
$0.84COP 2,986
95.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.93£14.11
$2.28COP 8,116
730.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.40£8.49
$10.64COP 37.9K
7.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28£1.70
$1.20COP 4,268
90.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52£1.87
$2.47COP 8,793
2.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Dunfermline
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.19£2.38
$0.86COP 3,045
270.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.1£59.7
$41.40COP 147.3K
93.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.70£3.50
$1.47COP 5,245
219.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.87£1.40
$1.96COP 6,984
-4.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.49£15.27
$7.74COP 27.5K
164.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.98£1.47
$0.95COP 3,397
108.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K£26.6K
$18.1KCOP 64.5M
97.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.4K£27.1K
$26.5KCOP 94.2M
37.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dunfermline
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$238£177
$82.3COP 292.7K
188.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.44£10.76
$9.50COP 33.8K
52.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.02£34.28
$24.23COP 86.2K
89.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dunfermline
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.01£28.32
$25.89COP 92.1K
46.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.26£9.13
$19.00COP 67.6K
-35.47%
Cinema Ticket
$12.67£9.44
$3.93COP 14.0K
222.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dunfermline
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,447£1,078
$309COP 1.1M
367.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.5K£14.5K
$5,965COP 21.2M
227.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dunfermline
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2£40.37
$58.7COP 208.7K
-7.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.8£40.84
$32.35COP 115.1K
69.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.6£72.0
$103COP 365.1K
-5.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108£80.8
$108COP 385.8K
-0.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dunfermline
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,106£824
$476COP 1.7M
132.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$816£608
$379COP 1.3M
115.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,216£906
$838COP 3.0M
45.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,161£865
$724COP 2.6M
60.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,037£1,517
$2,791COP 9.9M
-27.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,709£2,018
$1,211COP 4.3M
123.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dunfermline
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,945£2,194
$512COP 1.8M
475.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.72
13.43
-57.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dunfermline: May 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,106 in Dunfermline and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Dunfermline pays 475% 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 Dunfermline vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $188 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
Dunfermline vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dunfermline or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 96% lower than in Dunfermline. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Dunfermline or Medellin?
Dunfermline pays 475% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Dunfermline vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,106 in Dunfermline versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Dunfermline vs Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 93% less than in Dunfermline. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Dunfermline and Medellin?
Childcare runs $1,447 in Dunfermline versus $309 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Dunfermline or Medellin?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,988 in Dunfermline, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Dunfermline. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Dunfermline or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,013 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Dunfermline compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Dunfermline 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 96% less than in Dunfermline. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Dunfermline vs other spots: cost of living compared