Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and DidimCost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Didim
Monthly Cost of Living
πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,059 in Didim.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,615 in Didim.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $2,170 in Didim.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 4% less than in Didim, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Didim21% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Didim
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$7.80βΊ358
-23.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.4K
$30.40βΊ1,397
8.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$7.74βΊ356
-8.40%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,115
$2.96βΊ136
-42.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,924
$1.29βΊ59.3
-14.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,781
$0.43βΊ19.97
81.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,997
$3.59βΊ165
-53.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
$3.85βΊ177
-20.26%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Didim
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,906
$0.78βΊ35.98
39.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,508
$1.29βΊ59.2
-2.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,922
$2.57βΊ118
-46.30%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,827
$1.20βΊ55.1
82.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$10.21βΊ469
-56.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
$5.20βΊ239
8.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.8K
$17.44βΊ801
-49.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,349
$0.49βΊ22.57
377.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,777
$1.00βΊ46.06
6.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,374
$0.52βΊ23.95
188.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,924
$0.75βΊ34.35
84.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,111
$0.36βΊ16.68
219.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,155
$0.40βΊ18.25
190.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,182
$0.75βΊ34.44
18.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,997
$0.75βΊ34.44
12.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,145
$2.22βΊ102
2.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 38.0K
$10.99βΊ505
-3.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,284
$1.97βΊ90.7
-39.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,824
$2.09βΊ96.0
18.18%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Didim
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,056
$0.53βΊ24.20
62.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.9K
$30.91βΊ1,420
33.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,264
$2.61βΊ120
-43.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 7,009
$0.89βΊ40.99
120.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
$7.41βΊ341
4.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,409
$1.22βΊ55.9
-22.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.7M
$44.0KβΊ2.0M
-58.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.6M
$44.4KβΊ2.0M
-40.33%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Didim
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.7K
$60.9βΊ2,800
34.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
$7.57βΊ348
25.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.5K
$7.48βΊ344
223.93%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Didim
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.4K
$43.87βΊ2,016
-40.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$5.60βΊ257
-29.82%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Didim
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$621βΊ28.5K
-50.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
$8,834βΊ405.9K
-32.47%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Didim
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.5K
$15.51βΊ713
278.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.5K
$15.30βΊ703
111.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 366.4K
$101βΊ4,660
1.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 387.2K
$125βΊ5,748
-13.33%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Didim
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$506βΊ23.3K
-5.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$400βΊ18.4K
-5.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$230βΊ10.5K
265.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$708βΊ32.5K
2.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
$1,218βΊ55.9K
129.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
$981βΊ45.1K
23.47%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Didim
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
36.83
-63.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Didim: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $506 in Didim. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $30.00 in Didim. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 vs $209, with Medellin 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 Didim: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Didim?
Medellin wins on cost β living expenses run 5% lower than in Didim. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin vs Didim?
You'd need roughly $1,519 in Medellin and $1,589 in Didim 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs Didim?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $506 in Didim. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and Didim?
Childcare runs $309 in Medellin versus $621 in Didim. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or Didim?
Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Didim. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or Didim?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,059 in Didim, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Didim. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Didim?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $1,013 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Didim?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Didim are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet β expenses run 5% less than in Didim. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.