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: $1,013 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: Medellin24% lower, Daman68% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COP 21.4K
$5.21₹496
14.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COP 117.4K
$21.80₹2,077
50.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COP 25.3K
$2.07₹198
242.51%
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 6,115
$2.66₹253
-35.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,924
$0.49₹46.71
124.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,781
$0.11₹10.08
609.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COP 5,997
$2.38₹226
-29.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COP 11.0K
$4.02₹383
-23.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COP 3,906
$0.68₹64.6
60.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 4,508
$0.28₹26.66
350.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,922
$0.49₹46.76
181.63%
Eggs
$2.19COP 7,827
$0.82₹78.0
167.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COP 15.7K
$6.87₹654
-35.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COP 20.1K
$2.18₹208
158.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COP 31.8K
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 8,349
$2.37₹226
-1.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,777
$0.22₹20.90
381.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COP 5,374
$1.27₹121
18.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,924
$0.69₹65.3
100.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COP 4,111
$0.53₹50.8
116.98%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,155
$0.24₹22.87
383.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COP 3,182
$0.69₹65.7
28.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COP 2,997
$0.27₹25.80
211.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COP 8,145
$2.36₹225
-3.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COP 38.0K
$8.33₹793
27.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,284
$2.14₹203
-43.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COP 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)
$0.86COP 3,056
$0.30₹28.70
186.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COP 147.9K
$8.53₹813
385.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COP 5,264
$0.34₹32.26
332.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COP 7,009
$0.30₹28.90
553.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COP 27.6K
$1.44₹137
437.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COP 3,409
$1.14₹108
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
$17.7K₹1.7M
2.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 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)
$82.3COP 293.7K
$50.9₹4,846
61.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COP 33.9K
$2.84₹271
234.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COP 86.5K
$5.76₹549
320.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COP 92.4K
$15.91₹1,515
62.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COP 67.9K
$7.11₹677
167.23%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COP 14.0K
$2.95₹281
33.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COP 1.1M
$121₹11.5K
155.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COP 21.3M
$415₹39.5K
1338.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COP 209.5K
$15.99₹1,523
266.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COP 115.5K
$30.99₹2,952
4.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COP 366.4K
$27.38₹2,608
274.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 387.2K
$22.81₹2,173
375.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Daman
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COP 1.7M
$122₹11.6K
290.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COP 1.4M
$81.9₹7,802
362.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COP 3.0M
$276₹26.3K
203.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COP 2.6M
$212₹20.2K
242.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COP 10.0M
$955₹90.9K
192.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COP 4.3M
$512₹48.7K
136.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Daman
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COP 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.