Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Daman

For one person, living is cheaper in Daman: $391 a month against $1,614 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $14,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Daman
🇮🇳 India
$391
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Daman

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Daman actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,614 in Medellin versus $391 in Daman.

  • Medellin $1,614
  • Daman $391

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,402 in Medellin versus $638 in Daman.

  • Medellin $2,402
  • Daman $638

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,190 in Medellin versus $884 in Daman.

  • Medellin $3,190
  • Daman $884

Living in Medellin is roughly 313% more expensive than in Daman, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 20% above, Daman is 71% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.93 COP 25.2K
$2.03 ₹193
290.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.13 COP 146.3K
$20.49 ₹1,946
125.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$4.12 ₹391
130.58%
Cappuccino
$3.11 COP 9,866
$2.65 ₹251
17.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 COP 5,800
$0.37 ₹35.44
394.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,360
$0.15 ₹14.27
820.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 COP 9,672
$2.69 ₹255
13.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50 COP 17.4K
$4.25 ₹404
29.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 COP 4,600
$0.66 ₹62.2
119.70%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 COP 7,496
$0.30 ₹28.02
686.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 COP 5,328
$0.40 ₹38.31
320.00%
Eggs
$2.86 COP 9,077
$0.73 ₹69.0
291.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.3K
$5.66 ₹538
80.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 COP 30.2K
$2.04 ₹194
367.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 COP 44.5K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 COP 12.9K
$2.13 ₹203
91.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,742
$0.20 ₹18.95
650.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 COP 6,891
$1.20 ₹114
80.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 COP 7,310
$0.47 ₹44.28
391.49%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 COP 6,113
$0.34 ₹32.13
467.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 COP 5,196
$0.20 ₹18.95
720.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 COP 3,571
$0.43 ₹40.95
162.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,954
$0.25 ₹23.88
400.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 COP 12.6K
$2.04 ₹194
95.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 COP 42.3K
$8.20 ₹778
62.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 COP 5,384
$1.97 ₹187
-13.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 7,525
$3.07 ₹291
-22.80%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$6.18 ₹587
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Daman
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 COP 3,827
$0.27 ₹25.85
348.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.5 COP 242.5K
$6.61 ₹628
1057.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 COP 4,179
$0.30 ₹28.10
340.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 COP 6,774
$0.32 ₹30.55
568.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.47 COP 26.8K
$1.61 ₹153
426.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,114
$1.07 ₹101
21.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K COP 88.7M
$16.1K ₹1.5M
73.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 112.3M
$22.7K ₹2.2M
55.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 COP 545.6K
$60.4 ₹5,733
185.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.4K
$2.63 ₹249
408.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.73 COP 91.1K
$5.19 ₹493
453.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.24 COP 143.5K
$14.26 ₹1,354
217.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04 COP 54.0K
$6.22 ₹591
173.95%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 COP 19.9K
$2.59 ₹246
142.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$770 COP 2.4M
$47.36 ₹4,497
1526.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,011 COP 28.6M
$1,396 ₹132.6K
545.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 COP 274.0K
$14.80 ₹1,405
483.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 COP 181.1K
$23.84 ₹2,264
139.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 432.9K
$25.46 ₹2,418
436.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 310.4K
$20.79 ₹1,975
370.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Daman
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 COP 3.3M
$110 ₹10.4K
862.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 COP 2.0M
$72.5 ₹6,887
749.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 COP 6.0M
$252 ₹23.9K
651.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 COP 3.2M
$191 ₹18.1K
436.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,059 COP 12.9M
$989 ₹93.9K
310.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,678 COP 5.3M
$524 ₹49.8K
220.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 COP 2.1M
$212 ₹20.1K
207.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6
82.33%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Last update for Daman: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$616
Daman
$73 88.2% $543
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$295
Daman
$99 66.5% $196
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$214
Daman
$68 68.2% $146
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$170
Daman
$38 77.5% $132
Eating Out
Medellin
$168
Daman
$84 49.9% $84
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Daman
$9.6 89.7% $84
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Daman
$19 66.4% $38

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,055 in Medellin and $110 in Daman. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 208% 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: $46.00 in Medellin vs $20.00 in Daman for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 vs $99.0 per month, with Daman cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇮🇳 Daman
🕒 Local time
13:01 1:01 PM
23:31 11:31 PM
10 h 30 min ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
35,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 94.96 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 107 INR (1,000 INR = 9.37 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Daman 15,470 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Daman

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 313% 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 208% 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: $1,055 in Medellin versus $110 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 $20.00 versus $46.00 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 $1,614 per month in Medellin versus $391 in Daman – a 313% 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 $391 in Daman versus $1,614 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 $391 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 313% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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