Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Derna Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Derna

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $174 in Derna, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $339 in Derna, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $504 in Derna, rent included.

Medellin costs about 887% more than Derna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Derna is 87% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 COP 25.2K

$3.84 LYD 24.29

109.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.26 COP 151.7K

$8.07 LYD 51.1

498.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.77 COP 30.7K

$3.12 LYD 19.76

213.14%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.48 LYD 3.07

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 LYD 3.92

Cappuccino

$2.91 COP 9,149

$0.45 LYD 2.86

546.67%

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

$1.94 COP 6,110

$0.33 LYD 2.06

487.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 COP 4,783

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 COP 9,721

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 COP 18.1K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,287

$0.75 LYD 4.75

81.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 COP 7,505

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,346

$2.43 LYD 15.38

-30.04%

Eggs

$2.87 COP 9,021

$0.97 LYD 6.16

195.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 COP 31.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.78 COP 33.9K

$3.06 LYD 19.35

252.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 COP 46.3K

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 COP 12.8K

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 COP 4,940

$0.75 LYD 4.76

109.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 COP 6,682

$0.97 LYD 6.15

119.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 COP 6,959

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 COP 6,435

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 COP 4,728

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 COP 3,740

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 COP 3,640

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.44 COP 45.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 COP 4,978

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 COP 8,889

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,672

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 244.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,038

$0.81 LYD 5.13

58.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 COP 6,576

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 COP 27.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 COP 4,080

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

$27.7K COP 86.9M

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

$35.5K COP 111.6M

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

$176 COP 553.4K

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

$13.37 COP 42.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.89 COP 94.0K

$14.13 LYD 89.5

111.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.76 COP 140.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.6K

Cinema Ticket

$6.20 COP 19.5K

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

$793 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,019 COP 28.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.6 COP 269.1K

$31.54 LYD 200

171.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.5 COP 183.8K

$39.11 LYD 248

49.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 COP 428.4K

$38.88 LYD 246

250.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 COP 324.1K

$38.95 LYD 247

164.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,012 COP 6.3M

$159 LYD 1,009

1162.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,169 COP 3.7M

$94.6 LYD 599

1135.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 12.9M

$198 LYD 1,255

1974.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.3M

$79.8 LYD 505

2031.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$665 COP 2.1M

$174 LYD 1,103

281.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Derna: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 282% 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 $8.00 in Derna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $45.00 – making Derna 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 Derna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 887% more than Derna, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,574 per month in Medellin and $261 in Derna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,716 in Medellin and $174 in Derna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 577% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Derna, where all-in costs run around $174, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Derna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Derna costs $174 versus $1,716 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Derna. 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.