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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $888 in David, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $955 in David, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,022 in David, rent included.

Medellin costs about 89% more than David, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while David is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.0K

$5.60 PAB 5.60

43.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 149.4K

$37.14 PAB 37.14

28.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 30.8K

$7.47 PAB 7.47

32.40%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,767

$3.29 PAB 3.29

-4.86%

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

$1.91 COP 5,954

$1.46 PAB 1.46

30.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,712

$1.46 PAB 1.46

3.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,747

$2.01 PAB 2.01

55.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

$2.73 PAB 2.73

110.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,509

$1.79 PAB 1.79

-19.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,759

$2.19 PAB 2.19

13.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,535

$2.36 PAB 2.36

-25.00%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,235

$2.38 PAB 2.38

24.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.6K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 44.6K

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 12.9K

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,019

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,007

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,028

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,375

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,790

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,651

$1.99 PAB 1.99

-41.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,077

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.7K

$10.15 PAB 10.15

38.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,439

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

$0.77 PAB 0.77

58.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,084

$3.01 PAB 3.01

-56.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,825

$1.95 PAB 1.95

12.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,260

$1.00 PAB 1.00

37.00%

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

$27.8K COP 86.9M

$25.4K PAB 25.4K

9.55%

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

$35.8K COP 111.6M

$30.0K PAB 30.0K

19.43%

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

$177 COP 553.2K

$184 PAB 184

-3.53%

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

$13.88 COP 43.3K

$28.51 PAB 28.51

-51.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 92.8K

$48.57 PAB 48.57

-38.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 140.1K

$31.45 PAB 31.45

42.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.7K

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

$813 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

$5,899 PAB 5,899

55.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 279.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 184.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 431.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 318.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

$353 PAB 353

200.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

$343 PAB 343

93.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 5.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

$593 PAB 593

14.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

56.29%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for David: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $353 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 14% higher in Medellin, 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $37.00 in David. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $87.0 – making David 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 89%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,332 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.

Groceries cost about 250% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 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 $888, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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.