Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Daman Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Daman

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,716 in Medellin versus $401 in Daman.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,527 in Medellin versus $651 in Daman.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,338 in Medellin versus $902 in Daman.

Living in Medellin is roughly 328% more expensive than in Daman, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% above, Daman is 71% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03 COP 25.3K
$2.06 ₹196
289.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26 COP 152.0K
$20.99 ₹1,993
129.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.77 COP 30.8K
$4.08 ₹388
139.46%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,167
$2.63 ₹250
10.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 COP 6,122
$0.38 ₹35.69
410.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 COP 4,792
$0.15 ₹14.36
913.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 COP 9,740
$2.56 ₹243
20.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 COP 18.1K
$4.24 ₹402
35.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,296
$0.61 ₹57.7
122.95%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,519
$0.31 ₹29.23
670.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,356
$0.41 ₹38.86
314.63%
Eggs
$2.87 COP 9,038
$0.73 ₹69.5
293.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 COP 31.3K
$5.80 ₹551
71.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.78 COP 34.0K
$2.04 ₹194
428.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 COP 46.4K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 COP 12.9K
$2.26 ₹214
80.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 COP 4,950
$0.22 ₹20.92
613.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 COP 6,695
$1.16 ₹110
83.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 COP 6,972
$0.52 ₹49.58
325.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 COP 6,447
$0.38 ₹35.88
439.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,737
$0.20 ₹18.98
650.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 COP 3,747
$0.45 ₹42.68
164.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 COP 3,647
$0.25 ₹23.89
364.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.3K
$2.04 ₹194
91.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.44 COP 45.5K
$8.33 ₹791
73.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 4,987
$2.09 ₹199
-24.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 8,905
$3.07 ₹292
-7.82%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$6.16 ₹585
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Daman
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,679
$0.26 ₹24.22
350.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.7 COP 244.8K
$7.94 ₹754
878.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,045
$0.31 ₹29.35
312.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,589
$0.31 ₹29.17
574.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.62 COP 27.1K
$1.59 ₹151
442.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,088
$1.08 ₹102
20.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K COP 87.1M
$16.1K ₹1.5M
71.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K COP 111.8M
$22.7K ₹2.2M
56.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 COP 554.5K
$61.0 ₹5,791
188.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.1K
$2.59 ₹246
416.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89 COP 94.1K
$5.37 ₹510
456.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.76 COP 141.0K
$14.20 ₹1,348
215.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 COP 53.7K
$6.99 ₹664
144.06%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 COP 19.5K
$2.60 ₹247
138.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 COP 2.5M
$48.88 ₹4,642
1523.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,019 COP 28.4M
$375 ₹35.6K
2307.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 COP 269.6K
$14.76 ₹1,402
480.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5 COP 184.1K
$23.21 ₹2,204
151.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 COP 429.3K
$24.90 ₹2,365
447.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 COP 324.7K
$21.39 ₹2,031
382.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Daman
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,060 COP 3.3M
$111 ₹10.6K
852.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 COP 2.1M
$73.9 ₹7,020
819.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 COP 6.3M
$254 ₹24.1K
693.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 COP 3.7M
$194 ₹18.4K
503.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,111 COP 12.9M
$959 ₹91.0K
328.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,701 COP 5.4M
$519 ₹49.2K
228.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$665 COP 2.1M
$208 ₹19.7K
220.40%
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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Daman: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,060 in Medellin and $111 in Daman. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 220% 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: $48.00 in Medellin vs $21.00 in Daman for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $303 vs $101 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 328% 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 220% 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: $1,060 in Medellin versus $111 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 $21.00 versus $48.00 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 $1,716 per month in Medellin versus $401 in Daman – a 328% 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 $401 in Daman versus $1,716 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 $401 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 328% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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