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: $1,013 in Medellin versus $422 in Daman.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $706 in Daman.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $989 in Daman.

Living in Medellin is roughly 140% more expensive than Daman, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Daman 68% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99 COP 21.4K
$5.21 ₹496
14.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86 COP 117.4K
$21.80 ₹2,077
50.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 COP 25.3K
$2.07 ₹198
242.51%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COP 6,115
$2.66 ₹253
-35.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,924
$0.49 ₹46.71
124.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,781
$0.11 ₹10.08
609.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 COP 5,997
$2.38 ₹226
-29.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 COP 11.0K
$4.02 ₹383
-23.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 3,906
$0.68 ₹64.6
60.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 4,508
$0.28 ₹26.66
350.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,922
$0.49 ₹46.76
181.63%
Eggs
$2.19 COP 7,827
$0.82 ₹78.0
167.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 COP 15.7K
$6.87 ₹654
-35.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 COP 20.1K
$2.18 ₹208
158.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 COP 31.8K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COP 8,349
$2.37 ₹226
-1.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,777
$0.22 ₹20.90
381.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 COP 5,374
$1.27 ₹121
18.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,924
$0.69 ₹65.3
100.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COP 4,111
$0.53 ₹50.8
116.98%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,155
$0.24 ₹22.87
383.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,182
$0.69 ₹65.7
28.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 2,997
$0.27 ₹25.80
211.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COP 8,145
$2.36 ₹225
-3.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.64 COP 38.0K
$8.33 ₹793
27.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,284
$2.14 ₹203
-43.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COP 8,824
$3.35 ₹319
-26.27%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$7.01 ₹667
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Daman
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,056
$0.30 ₹28.70
186.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.40 COP 147.9K
$8.53 ₹813
385.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,264
$0.34 ₹32.26
332.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 7,009
$0.30 ₹28.90
553.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.74 COP 27.6K
$1.44 ₹137
437.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COP 3,409
$1.14 ₹108
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COP 64.7M
$17.7K ₹1.7M
2.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COP 94.6M
$25.2K ₹2.4M
5.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 COP 293.7K
$50.9 ₹4,846
61.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50 COP 33.9K
$2.84 ₹271
234.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23 COP 86.5K
$5.76 ₹549
320.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.89 COP 92.4K
$15.91 ₹1,515
62.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00 COP 67.9K
$7.11 ₹677
167.23%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93 COP 14.0K
$2.95 ₹281
33.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 COP 1.1M
$121 ₹11.5K
155.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,965 COP 21.3M
$415 ₹39.5K
1338.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COP 209.5K
$15.99 ₹1,523
266.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35 COP 115.5K
$30.99 ₹2,952
4.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 366.4K
$27.38 ₹2,608
274.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 387.2K
$22.81 ₹2,173
375.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Daman
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COP 1.7M
$122 ₹11.6K
290.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.4M
$81.9 ₹7,802
362.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COP 3.0M
$276 ₹26.3K
203.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 COP 2.6M
$212 ₹20.2K
242.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,791 COP 10.0M
$955 ₹90.9K
192.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 COP 4.3M
$512 ₹48.7K
136.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$512 COP 1.8M
$205 ₹19.5K
149.48%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Daman: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $122 in Daman. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 149% 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 $188 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 140% 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 Daman?
Medellin pays 149% 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 Medellin vs Daman?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 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 vs 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 $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $422 in Daman – a 140% 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 Daman?
At $422 in Daman versus $1,013 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 $422 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 140% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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