Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and DamanCost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Daman
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $429 in Daman.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $719 in Daman.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $1,009 in Daman.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 141% more expensive than in Daman, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Daman68% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$5.17₹498
19.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$22.29₹2,146
46.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$2.11₹204
247.87%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,600
$2.63₹253
-34.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$0.48₹46.45
118.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$0.13₹12.64
492.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,488
$2.27₹219
-25.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$4.00₹385
-20.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$0.73₹70.2
43.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$0.28₹26.86
364.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$0.49₹47.26
185.71%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,047
$0.87₹84.0
148.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$6.91₹665
-36.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$2.16₹208
172.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,426
$2.30₹222
-0.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,604
$0.22₹21.16
404.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,983
$1.29₹124
18.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$0.69₹66.5
95.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$0.54₹51.6
109.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$0.24₹23.16
370.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$0.64₹61.4
32.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.27₹26.19
237.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,630
$2.39₹230
-2.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$8.20₹790
50.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$2.11₹203
-43.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$3.40₹327
-26.76%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$7.10₹683
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Daman
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,728
$0.28₹26.93
200.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$8.65₹832
369.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$0.34₹32.55
317.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$0.30₹29.10
540.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$1.44₹139
431.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$1.13₹109
-12.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$17.7K₹1.7M
1.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$24.9K₹2.4M
7.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$50.6₹4,866
59.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$2.96₹285
236.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$5.88₹566
311.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.7K
$15.76₹1,517
59.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$6.99₹673
173.96%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$2.87₹276
38.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.5K
$119₹11.5K
155.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$401₹38.6K
1411.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$15.98₹1,538
263.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$30.99₹2,983
3.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$27.65₹2,662
264.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$23.21₹2,234
364.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Daman
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$122₹11.8K
289.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$80.5₹7,745
367.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$274₹26.4K
207.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$218₹20.9K
235.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$965₹92.9K
233.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$507₹48.8K
170.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$206₹19.8K
200.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
9
49.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Daman: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $122 in Daman. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 200% 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $22.00 in Daman for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $110 per month, with Daman 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
Medellin vs Daman: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Daman?
Daman wins on cost – living expenses run 141% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Daman the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in Daman?
Average pay runs 200% higher in Medellin, 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 Medellin compared to Daman?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Medellin versus $122 in Daman. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Daman?
Dining out is cheaper in Daman – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Daman?
All in, you'll spend $1,031 per month in Medellin versus $429 in Daman – a 141% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Daman?
At $429 in Daman versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Daman but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Daman the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Daman?
Both work as nomad bases, but Daman delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $429 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Daman hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Daman?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Daman 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 Daman gentler on the wallet – expenses run 141% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.