Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Doncaster

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,639 a month against $2,003 in Doncaster, rent and utilities included – about $4,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Doncaster, United Kingdom
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Doncaster
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,003
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Doncaster

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Doncaster actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,639 in Medellin versus $2,003 in Doncaster.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Doncaster $2,003

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,413 in Medellin versus $3,030 in Doncaster.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Doncaster $3,030

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,186 in Medellin versus $4,057 in Doncaster.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Doncaster $4,057

Living in Medellin costs roughly 18% less than in Doncaster, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin 20% above, Doncaster 47% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Doncaster
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.6K
$22.87 £17.16
-64.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 148.9K
$79.2 £59.4
-40.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$8.01 £6.01
18.60%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,540
$4.96 £3.72
-39.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,693
$1.82 £1.37
-1.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,469
$1.35 £1.02
4.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$6.42 £4.82
-50.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.2K
$3.95 £2.97
45.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Doncaster
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,778
$1.75 £1.31
-13.71%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,524
$2.03 £1.52
17.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,606
$2.62 £1.97
-32.44%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,146
$3.10 £2.33
-6.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.2K
$8.97 £6.73
13.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.2K
$9.30 £6.98
6.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.3K
$15.13 £11.35
-7.53%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.6K
$3.45 £2.59
15.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,911
$1.65 £1.24
-6.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,907
$3.12 £2.34
-30.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,910
$2.50 £1.88
-12.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,210
$1.42 £1.06
38.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,029
$1.52 £1.14
4.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,625
$1.25 £0.94
-8.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,934
$1.30 £0.98
-4.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.5K
$20.47 £15.36
-80.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.3K
$9.38 £7.04
45.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,252
$3.55 £2.67
-53.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,145
$2.56 £1.92
-11.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Doncaster
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,696
$2.71 £2.03
-56.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 244.8K
$70.4 £52.9
9.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,013
$3.96 £2.97
-67.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,480
$3.26 £2.44
-37.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.1K
$39.25 £29.45
-78.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,262
$1.92 £1.44
-29.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 107.8M
$37.2K £27.9K
-8.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.7M
$40.1K £30.1K
-13.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Doncaster
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 536.8K
$359 £270
-52.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.9K
$17.73 £13.30
-23.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.8K
$46.44 £34.84
-39.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Doncaster
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 138.3K
$37.92 £28.45
15.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.4K
$9.42 £7.07
82.48%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.9K
$9.70 £7.28
-28.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Doncaster
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
$1,241 £931
-35.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.8M
$22.3K £16.7K
-59.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Doncaster
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 268.1K
$108 £81.0
-21.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 183.4K
$41.08 £30.83
41.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 427.1K
$121 £90.9
11.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 309.7K
$111 £83.1
-11.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Doncaster
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$669 £502
80.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$629 £472
1.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$1,322 £992
53.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$1,160 £870
-12.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.2M
$5,044 £3,785
-17.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.0M
$3,893 £2,921
-50.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Doncaster
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$2,520 £1,891
-73.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
5.55
97.12%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Doncaster: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Doncaster
$629 1.9% $12
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Doncaster
$301 1.4% $4.2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Doncaster
$424 101% $212
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Doncaster
$319 88.2% $150
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Doncaster
$171 1.4% $2.4
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Doncaster
$102 8.5% $8
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Doncaster
$57 0.3% $0.2

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,208 in Medellin and $669 in Doncaster. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Doncaster pays about 3.8 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $47 in Medellin vs $79 in Doncaster for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $301 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇬🇧 Doncaster
🕒 Local time
20:01 8:01 PM
01:01 1:01 AM
5 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
165,468
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GBP, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 3,164 COP (10,000 COP = 3.16 USD). 1 EUR = 3,523 COP (10,000 COP = 2.84 EUR).

British Pound exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 0.75 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.835 GBP (1 GBP = 1.2 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Doncaster 8,420 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Doncaster

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Doncaster: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Doncaster?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Doncaster. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in Doncaster?
On paper, salaries run 74% lower in Medellin. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Doncaster?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,208 in Medellin versus $669 in Doncaster. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and in Doncaster?
Childcare runs $797 in Medellin versus $1,241 in Doncaster. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Doncaster?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $47 versus $79 in Doncaster. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Medellin or in Doncaster?
Either city works on $2,500 a month, though Medellin gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Medellin or Doncaster?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Should I move to Medellin or to Doncaster?
It comes down to priorities – Medellin wins on affordability, Doncaster on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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