😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $317 in Damietta.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $552 in Damietta.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $788 in Damietta.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 225% more expensive than in Damietta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Damietta76% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Damietta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$3.63E£185
69.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$13.95E£712
133.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$4.01E£204
83.04%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$0.78E£40.07
120.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$0.29E£14.60
262.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$0.12E£6.35
541.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$1.22E£62.5
38.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$2.97E£152
6.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Damietta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$0.62E£31.86
69.35%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$0.31E£15.97
319.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$0.64E£32.44
118.75%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$1.44E£73.3
50.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$2.07E£106
112.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$3.32E£169
77.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$8.88E£453
-2.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$1.48E£75.5
54.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$0.54E£27.39
105.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$0.38E£19.51
302.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$0.36E£18.49
275.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$0.37E£18.99
205.41%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$0.25E£12.85
352.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$0.21E£10.72
304.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.19E£9.95
378.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$1.96E£99.9
19.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$5.89E£301
110.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$1.36E£69.6
-11.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$1.99E£102
25.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Damietta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$0.11E£5.85
663.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$4.41E£225
819.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$0.56E£28.65
153.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$0.19E£9.64
910.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$0.41E£21.05
1768.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$0.26E£13.20
280.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$25.4KE£1.3M
-29.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$32.0KE£1.6M
-16.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Damietta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$11.15E£569
624.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$5.73E£293
73.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$6.71E£342
260.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Damietta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$19.32E£986
29.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$6.68E£341
186.68%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$2.98E£152
33.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Damietta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$36.91E£1,884
726.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$992E£50.7K
510.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Damietta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$17.07E£871
240.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$26.39E£1,347
22.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$97.6E£4,983
3.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$20.02E£1,022
438.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Damietta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$34.49E£1,761
1281.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$21.48E£1,097
1651.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$119E£6,082
608.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$83.3E£4,255
776.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$990E£50.6K
224.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$701E£35.8K
95.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Damietta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$129E£6,575
378.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
8
67.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Damietta: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $34.49 in Damietta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 379% 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 $14.00 in Damietta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $108 per month, with Damietta 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 Damietta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Damietta?
Damietta wins on cost – living expenses run 225% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Damietta the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in Damietta?
Average pay runs 379% 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 Damietta?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Medellin versus $34.49 in Damietta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Damietta?
All in, you'll spend $1,031 per month in Medellin versus $317 in Damietta – a 225% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Medellin compared to Damietta?
A monthly transit pass in Damietta runs roughly 820% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Damietta?
At $317 in Damietta versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Damietta but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Damietta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Damietta?
Both work as nomad bases, but Damietta delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $317 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Damietta hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Damietta?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Damietta 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 Damietta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 225% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.