Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Dartmouth Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Dartmouth

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $2,119 in Dartmouth, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $3,202 in Dartmouth, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $4,286 in Dartmouth, rent included.

Medellin is about 52% cheaper than Dartmouth, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Dartmouth is 58% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Dartmouth
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99 COPΒ 21.4K
$14.71 CA$20.37
-59.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86 COPΒ 117.4K
$60.8 CA$84.2
-45.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 COPΒ 25.3K
$8.65 CA$11.98
-18.03%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COPΒ 6,115
$3.79 CA$5.25
-54.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COPΒ 3,924
$1.74 CA$2.40
-36.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COPΒ 2,781
$1.32 CA$1.83
-40.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 COPΒ 5,997
$6.03 CA$8.35
-72.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 COPΒ 11.0K
$6.02 CA$8.33
-49.00%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Dartmouth
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,906
$2.04 CA$2.83
-46.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COPΒ 4,508
$2.51 CA$3.48
-49.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,922
$3.77 CA$5.22
-63.40%
Eggs
$2.19 COPΒ 7,827
$3.49 CA$4.83
-37.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 COPΒ 15.7K
$10.38 CA$14.37
-57.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 COPΒ 20.1K
$11.44 CA$15.84
-50.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 COPΒ 31.8K
$15.33 CA$21.22
-42.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COPΒ 8,349
$3.62 CA$5.02
-35.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,777
$1.63 CA$2.25
-34.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 COPΒ 5,374
$3.83 CA$5.31
-60.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,924
$5.38 CA$7.45
-74.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COPΒ 4,111
$2.03 CA$2.81
-43.35%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COPΒ 4,155
$2.22 CA$3.08
-47.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,182
$2.70 CA$3.74
-67.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COPΒ 2,997
$1.84 CA$2.55
-54.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COPΒ 8,145
$14.66 CA$20.30
-84.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.64 COPΒ 38.0K
$11.41 CA$15.80
-6.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COPΒ 4,284
$3.24 CA$4.49
-62.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COPΒ 8,824
$3.26 CA$4.51
-24.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Dartmouth
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COPΒ 3,056
$1.97 CA$2.72
-56.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.40 COPΒ 147.9K
$61.2 CA$84.8
-32.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COPΒ 5,264
$8.00 CA$11.07
-81.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COPΒ 7,009
$1.42 CA$1.96
38.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.74 COPΒ 27.6K
$28.93 CA$40.05
-73.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COPΒ 3,409
$1.20 CA$1.66
-20.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COPΒ 64.7M
$24.9K CA$34.4K
-27.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 94.6M
$20.8K CA$28.7K
27.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Dartmouth
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 COPΒ 293.7K
$69.9 CA$96.8
17.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50 COPΒ 33.9K
$37.93 CA$52.5
-74.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23 COPΒ 86.5K
$81.4 CA$113
-70.24%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Dartmouth
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.89 COPΒ 92.4K
$37.35 CA$51.7
-30.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00 COPΒ 67.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.93 COPΒ 14.0K
$11.06 CA$15.31
-64.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Dartmouth
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 COPΒ 1.1M
$165 CA$229
87.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,965 COPΒ 21.3M
$11.9K CA$16.5K
-49.85%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Dartmouth
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COPΒ 209.5K
$41.16 CA$57.0
42.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35 COPΒ 115.5K
$34.99 CA$48.45
-7.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COPΒ 366.4K
$69.5 CA$96.3
47.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPΒ 387.2K
$77.7 CA$108
39.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Dartmouth
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COPΒ 1.7M
$1,295 CA$1,793
-63.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.4M
$1,062 CA$1,471
-64.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COPΒ 3.0M
$2,081 CA$2,881
-59.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 COPΒ 2.6M
$1,890 CA$2,617
-61.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,791 COPΒ 10.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 COPΒ 4.3M
-
-
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Dartmouth
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$512 COPΒ 1.8M
$2,657 CA$3,679
-80.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
5.62
138.97%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Dartmouth: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $1,295 in Dartmouth. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 419% higher in Dartmouth, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $61.0 in Dartmouth. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $368 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Dartmouth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and Dartmouth compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,013 in Medellin, $2,119 in Dartmouth – roughly 109% apart. Dartmouth costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Dartmouth?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $3,178 in Dartmouth. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Dartmouth?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Dartmouth?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $2,119 in Dartmouth. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and Dartmouth?
Public transport costs about 48% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Dartmouth at $2,119. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dartmouth it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Dartmouth?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,013 in Medellin to $2,119 in Dartmouth. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Medellin and Dartmouth?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dartmouth makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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