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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $977 in David, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,152 in David, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,327 in David, rent included.

Medellin costs about 5% more than David, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and David are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, David 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$4.86 PAB 4.86

26.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$35.40 PAB 35.40

-7.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$6.61 PAB 6.61

11.04%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$2.67 PAB 2.67

-35.58%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$1.44 PAB 1.44

-27.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$1.44 PAB 1.44

-46.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$1.46 PAB 1.46

15.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$2.22 PAB 2.22

42.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.78 PAB 1.78

-41.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$2.13 PAB 2.13

-38.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$2.49 PAB 2.49

-43.78%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$2.02 PAB 2.02

6.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$5.49 PAB 5.49

-20.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$11.07 PAB 11.07

-46.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$2.80 PAB 2.80

208.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$7.70 PAB 7.70

-70.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$2.68 PAB 2.68

-57.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$1.34 PAB 1.34

-36.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$2.44 PAB 2.44

-62.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$10.04 PAB 10.04

23.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$0.77 PAB 0.77

9.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$3.03 PAB 3.03

-53.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$1.97 PAB 1.97

-2.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.01 PAB 1.01

-1.98%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$25.3K PAB 25.3K

-28.75%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$30.4K PAB 30.4K

-12.37%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$174 PAB 174

-53.45%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$28.40 PAB 28.40

-64.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$42.47 PAB 42.47

-43.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$30.64 PAB 30.64

-18.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

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

$305 COP 993.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$6,087 PAB 6,087

-0.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$352 PAB 352

35.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$348 PAB 348

8.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$594 PAB 594

3.86%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for David: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $352 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 4% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $35.00 in David. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $236 – 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 5%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,466 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 22% 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 $35.00 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 $977, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.