πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $315 in Damietta.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $548 in Damietta.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $782 in Damietta.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 222% more expensive than Damietta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Damietta77% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Damietta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$3.55EΒ£184
68.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.2K
$13.56EΒ£704
142.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$4.03EΒ£209
75.93%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,105
$0.74EΒ£38.28
131.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,918
$0.29EΒ£15.00
279.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,776
$0.11EΒ£5.55
609.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,987
$1.17EΒ£60.7
43.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 10.9K
$3.04EΒ£158
0.99%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Damietta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,899
$0.62EΒ£32.28
75.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,500
$0.29EΒ£14.89
334.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,914
$0.69EΒ£35.91
100.00%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,813
$1.43EΒ£74.3
53.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$2.09EΒ£109
110.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
$3.21EΒ£167
75.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.7K
$8.68EΒ£450
2.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,334
$1.43EΒ£74.3
63.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,771
$0.54EΒ£28.23
96.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,365
$0.38EΒ£19.84
294.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,915
$0.40EΒ£20.54
245.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,104
$0.38EΒ£19.50
202.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,148
$0.23EΒ£11.94
404.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,176
$0.17EΒ£8.93
423.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,992
$0.21EΒ£10.94
300.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,131
$2.02EΒ£105
12.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 37.9K
$5.62EΒ£292
89.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,276
$1.37EΒ£70.9
-12.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,809
$1.92EΒ£99.8
28.65%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Damietta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,051
$0.10EΒ£5.22
760.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.6K
$4.26EΒ£221
871.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,255
$0.51EΒ£26.66
188.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 6,997
$0.23EΒ£11.80
752.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
$0.38EΒ£19.95
1936.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,403
$0.28EΒ£14.64
239.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.6M
$24.7KEΒ£1.3M
-26.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.4M
$32.2KEΒ£1.7M
-17.67%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Damietta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.2K
$11.53EΒ£599
613.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
$5.56EΒ£288
70.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.4K
$6.77EΒ£352
257.90%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Damietta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.3K
$18.72EΒ£972
38.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.7K
$6.55EΒ£340
190.08%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$2.91EΒ£151
35.05%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Damietta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$36.38EΒ£1,888
750.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
$978EΒ£50.7K
510.09%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Damietta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.1K
$16.78EΒ£871
249.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.3K
$27.09EΒ£1,406
19.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 365.7K
$100EΒ£5,197
2.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 386.5K
$19.59EΒ£1,017
453.50%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Damietta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$34.06EΒ£1,768
1298.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$22.14EΒ£1,149
1610.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$117EΒ£6,091
614.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$84.6EΒ£4,391
755.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 9.9M
$943EΒ£48.9K
196.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
$671EΒ£34.8K
80.52%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Damietta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
$126EΒ£6,522
307.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
8
67.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Damietta: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $34.06 in Damietta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Medellin pays 307% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $14.00 in Damietta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $107 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 β living expenses run 222% 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 Damietta?
Medellin pays 307% 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 Damietta?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $34.06 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 $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $315 in Damietta β a 222% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Medellin vs Damietta?
A monthly transit pass in Damietta runs roughly 872% 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 Damietta?
At $315 in Damietta versus $1,013 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 β similar infrastructure at $315 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 β expenses run 222% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.