Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Dubasari Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Dubasari

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $706 in Dubasari.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,089 in Dubasari.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $1,472 in Dubasari.

Living in Medellin is roughly 44% more expensive than Dubasari, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Dubasari 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Dubasari
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99 COPΒ 21.4K
$9.03 MDLΒ 155
-33.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86 COPΒ 117.4K
$36.34 MDLΒ 625
-9.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 COPΒ 25.3K
$7.40 MDLΒ 127
-4.19%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COPΒ 6,115
$1.89 MDLΒ 32.52
-9.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COPΒ 3,924
$0.94 MDLΒ 16.13
17.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COPΒ 2,781
$0.66 MDLΒ 11.27
18.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 COPΒ 5,997
$1.72 MDLΒ 29.51
-2.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 COPΒ 11.0K
$2.40 MDLΒ 41.19
27.92%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Dubasari
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,906
$1.28 MDLΒ 22.05
-14.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COPΒ 4,508
$0.53 MDLΒ 9.03
137.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,922
$1.51 MDLΒ 26.02
-8.61%
Eggs
$2.19 COPΒ 7,827
$2.58 MDLΒ 44.34
-15.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 COPΒ 15.7K
$10.36 MDLΒ 178
-57.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 COPΒ 20.1K
$5.52 MDLΒ 94.9
1.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 COPΒ 31.8K
$8.89 MDLΒ 153
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COPΒ 8,349
$0.85 MDLΒ 14.63
175.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,777
$1.77 MDLΒ 30.50
-40.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 COPΒ 5,374
$1.79 MDLΒ 30.73
-16.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,924
$2.09 MDLΒ 35.99
-33.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COPΒ 4,111
$0.81 MDLΒ 13.99
41.98%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COPΒ 4,155
$0.58 MDLΒ 10.00
100.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,182
$1.30 MDLΒ 22.33
-31.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COPΒ 2,997
$0.89 MDLΒ 15.38
-5.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COPΒ 8,145
$3.16 MDLΒ 54.3
-27.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.64 COPΒ 38.0K
$4.54 MDLΒ 78.1
134.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COPΒ 4,284
$1.27 MDLΒ 21.84
-5.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COPΒ 8,824
$1.94 MDLΒ 33.28
27.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Dubasari
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COPΒ 3,056
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.40 COPΒ 147.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COPΒ 5,264
$2.00 MDLΒ 34.34
-26.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COPΒ 7,009
$0.27 MDLΒ 4.69
625.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.74 COPΒ 27.6K
$5.31 MDLΒ 91.2
45.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COPΒ 3,409
$1.44 MDLΒ 24.71
-34.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COPΒ 64.7M
$32.0K MDLΒ 550.4K
-43.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 94.6M
$30.7K MDLΒ 526.9K
-13.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Dubasari
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 COPΒ 293.7K
$170 MDLΒ 2,915
-51.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50 COPΒ 33.9K
$7.47 MDLΒ 128
27.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23 COPΒ 86.5K
$10.81 MDLΒ 186
124.14%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Dubasari
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.89 COPΒ 92.4K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00 COPΒ 67.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.93 COPΒ 14.0K
$7.45 MDLΒ 128
-47.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Dubasari
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 COPΒ 1.1M
$387 MDLΒ 6,650
-20.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,965 COPΒ 21.3M
$7,611 MDLΒ 130.8K
-21.63%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Dubasari
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COPΒ 209.5K
$66.8 MDLΒ 1,147
-12.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35 COPΒ 115.5K
$52.9 MDLΒ 909
-38.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COPΒ 366.4K
$112 MDLΒ 1,932
-8.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPΒ 387.2K
$124 MDLΒ 2,131
-12.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Dubasari
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COPΒ 1.7M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.4M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COPΒ 3.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 COPΒ 2.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,791 COPΒ 10.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 COPΒ 4.3M
-
-
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Dubasari
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$512 COPΒ 1.8M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
9.24
45.35%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Dubasari: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $36.00 in Dubasari for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $191 per month, with Medellin 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 Dubasari: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dubasari cheaper than Medellin?
Dubasari is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,519 in Medellin and $1,059 in Dubasari 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 do food prices compare in Medellin and Dubasari?
Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Dubasari?
All in, you'll spend $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $706 in Dubasari – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Dubasari?
At $706 in Dubasari versus $1,013 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dubasari but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Dubasari the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Dubasari more family-friendly?
For families, Dubasari is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Dubasari?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Dubasari 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Dubasari gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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