Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and David Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and David

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $997 in David, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,168 in David, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,338 in David, rent included.

Medellin costs about 2% more than David, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and David are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, David 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$5.04 PAB 5.04

18.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$36.52 PAB 36.52

-10.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$6.81 PAB 6.81

4.11%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$2.66 PAB 2.66

-35.71%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,924

$1.41 PAB 1.41

-21.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$1.38 PAB 1.38

-43.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$1.46 PAB 1.46

15.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$2.20 PAB 2.20

39.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.80 PAB 1.80

-39.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$2.14 PAB 2.14

-41.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$2.48 PAB 2.48

-44.35%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$2.04 PAB 2.04

7.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$5.41 PAB 5.41

-18.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$11.11 PAB 11.11

-49.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$2.87 PAB 2.87

209.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$7.94 PAB 7.94

-70.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$2.65 PAB 2.65

-56.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$1.35 PAB 1.35

-34.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$2.52 PAB 2.52

-66.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$9.81 PAB 9.81

8.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$0.78 PAB 0.78

10.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$3.02 PAB 3.02

-51.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$1.94 PAB 1.94

1.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.01 PAB 1.01

-5.94%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$24.8K PAB 24.8K

-26.80%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$30.6K PAB 30.6K

-13.36%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$174 PAB 174

-52.62%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$27.59 PAB 27.59

-65.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$42.92 PAB 42.92

-43.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$30.56 PAB 30.56

-15.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$5,892 PAB 5,892

1.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$346 PAB 346

37.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$351 PAB 351

7.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$591 PAB 591

-13.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

91.86%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for David: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $346 in David. 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 15% higher in David, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $37.00 in David. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $238 – 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 David: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,495 in David. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in David, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 26% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $37.00 in David. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in David, where all-in costs run around $997, than in Medellin at $1,013. In David it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward David – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with David. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.