Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Didim Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Didim

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $976 in Didim.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $1,524 in Didim.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $2,071 in Didim.

Living in Medellin is roughly 72% more expensive than in Didim, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Didim is 29% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Didim
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.0K
$8.27 ₺402
-3.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 149.4K
$28.98 ₺1,410
65.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 30.8K
$8.75 ₺426
13.03%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,767
$3.49 ₺170
-10.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 5,954
$1.20 ₺58.2
59.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,712
$0.43 ₺20.87
251.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,747
$2.36 ₺115
32.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 17.9K
$4.07 ₺198
41.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Didim
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,509
$0.99 ₺48.40
45.45%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,759
$0.98 ₺47.49
154.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,535
$2.23 ₺109
-20.63%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,235
$2.11 ₺103
40.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 31.4K
$9.06 ₺441
11.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 31.6K
$3.93 ₺191
157.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 44.6K
$19.75 ₺961
-27.59%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 12.9K
$1.82 ₺88.7
127.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,019
$1.93 ₺93.7
-16.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,007
$1.06 ₺51.8
112.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,028
$1.22 ₺59.5
84.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,375
$0.50 ₺24.18
308.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,790
$0.38 ₺18.27
305.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,651
$0.88 ₺42.74
32.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,077
$0.70 ₺33.89
87.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$2.05 ₺99.8
90.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.7K
$10.39 ₺506
34.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,439
$2.03 ₺98.8
-14.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 8,956
$2.94 ₺143
-2.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Didim
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,792
$0.73 ₺35.41
67.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 251.1K
$34.69 ₺1,688
132.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,084
$1.30 ₺63.4
0.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,825
$0.88 ₺42.69
148.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.2K
$5.17 ₺252
68.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,260
$1.30 ₺63.1
5.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 86.9M
$37.1K ₺1.8M
-24.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 111.6M
$35.1K ₺1.7M
1.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Didim
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 553.2K
$66.4 ₺3,232
166.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 43.3K
$11.06 ₺538
25.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 92.8K
$12.53 ₺610
137.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Didim
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 140.1K
$44.63 ₺2,172
0.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 53.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.7K
$6.09 ₺296
9.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Didim
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.5M
$539 ₺26.2K
50.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 28.7M
$12.5K ₺609.5K
-26.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Didim
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 279.3K
$48.68 ₺2,369
83.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 184.0K
$30.83 ₺1,500
91.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 431.2K
$83.0 ₺4,039
66.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 318.7K
$74.1 ₺3,604
37.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Didim
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.3M
$393 ₺19.1K
169.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
$288 ₺14.0K
130.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 5.9M
$744 ₺36.2K
153.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.2M
$573 ₺27.9K
79.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.1M
$1,382 ₺67.3K
202.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.2M
$900 ₺43.8K
85.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Didim
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
41
-73.32%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Didim: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $393 in Didim. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $29.00 in Didim for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $225 per month, with Didim cheaper across the board.

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?
Didim wins on cost – living expenses run 72% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Didim the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Didim?
You'd need roughly $2,521 in Medellin and $1,464 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 compared to Didim?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $393 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 in Didim?
Childcare runs $813 in Medellin versus $539 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 in Didim?
Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Didim?
At $976 in Didim versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Didim but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Didim the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Didim?
Both work as nomad bases, but Didim delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $976 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Didim 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 Didim gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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