Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Daule Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Daule

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $844 in Daule.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $1,439 in Daule.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $2,035 in Daule.

Living in Medellin is roughly 99% more expensive than in Daule, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Daule is 38% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Daule
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.0K
$5.49 $5.49
46.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 149.4K
$53.3 $53.3
-10.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 30.8K
$7.83 $7.83
26.31%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,767
$3.48 $3.48
-10.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 5,954
$1.38 $1.38
38.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,712
$1.10 $1.10
37.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,747
$3.53 $3.53
-11.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 17.9K
$5.52 $5.52
4.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Daule
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,509
$1.11 $1.11
29.73%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,759
$1.55 $1.55
60.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,535
$1.58 $1.58
12.03%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,235
$2.16 $2.16
37.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 31.4K
$6.45 $6.45
56.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 31.6K
$5.77 $5.77
75.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 44.6K
$7.49 $7.49
90.92%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 12.9K
$2.31 $2.31
79.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,019
$1.19 $1.19
35.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,007
$1.27 $1.27
77.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,028
$1.09 $1.09
106.42%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,375
$1.19 $1.19
71.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,790
$1.03 $1.03
49.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,651
$0.86 $0.86
36.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,077
$1.03 $1.03
27.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$5.84 $5.84
-33.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.7K
$9.87 $9.87
41.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,439
$1.57 $1.57
10.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 8,956
$3.05 $3.05
-5.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Daule
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,792
$0.38 $0.38
221.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 251.1K
$19.94 $19.94
303.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,084
$1.54 $1.54
-14.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,825
$1.53 $1.53
43.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.2K
$10.03 $10.03
-13.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,260
$0.86 $0.86
59.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 86.9M
$20.6K $20.6K
35.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 111.6M
$28.4K $28.4K
26.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Daule
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 553.2K
$28.95 $28.95
512.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 43.3K
$17.54 $17.54
-20.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 92.8K
$28.51 $28.51
4.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Daule
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 140.1K
$28.79 $28.79
55.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 53.4K
$14.20 $14.20
20.56%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.7K
$6.75 $6.75
-1.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Daule
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.5M
$216 $216
277.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 28.7M
$8,878 $8,878
3.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Daule
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 279.3K
$64.4 $64.4
38.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 184.0K
$49.23 $49.23
19.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 431.2K
$117 $117
18.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 318.7K
$107 $107
-4.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Daule
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.3M
$256 $256
315.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
$159 $159
315.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 5.9M
$720 $720
162.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.2M
$423 $423
142.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.1M
$1,131 $1,131
269.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.2M
$808 $808
107.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Daule
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
10.12
8.10%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Daule: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $256 in Daule. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $53.0 in Daule. Groceries flip the comparison at $305 vs $196, with Daule cheaper for home cooking.

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 Daule: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Daule cheaper than Medellin?
Daule is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 99% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,521 in Medellin and $1,266 in Daule to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Daule?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $256 in Daule. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Daule?
Dining out is cheaper in Daule – a meal for two runs $53.0 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Daule?
All in, you'll spend $1,681 per month in Medellin versus $844 in Daule – a 99% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Daule?
At $844 in Daule versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Daule but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Daule the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Daule more family-friendly?
For families, Daule is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Daule gentler on the wallet – expenses run 99% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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