πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $706 in Dubasari.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,089 in Dubasari.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $1,472 in Dubasari.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 44% more expensive than Dubasari, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Dubasari47% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Dubasari
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$9.03MDLΒ 155
-33.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.4K
$36.34MDLΒ 625
-9.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$7.40MDLΒ 127
-4.19%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,115
$1.89MDLΒ 32.52
-9.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,924
$0.94MDLΒ 16.13
17.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,781
$0.66MDLΒ 11.27
18.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,997
$1.72MDLΒ 29.51
-2.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
$2.40MDLΒ 41.19
27.92%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Dubasari
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,906
$1.28MDLΒ 22.05
-14.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,508
$0.53MDLΒ 9.03
137.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,922
$1.51MDLΒ 26.02
-8.61%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,827
$2.58MDLΒ 44.34
-15.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$10.36MDLΒ 178
-57.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
$5.52MDLΒ 94.9
1.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.8K
$8.89MDLΒ 153
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,349
$0.85MDLΒ 14.63
175.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,777
$1.77MDLΒ 30.50
-40.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,374
$1.79MDLΒ 30.73
-16.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,924
$2.09MDLΒ 35.99
-33.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,111
$0.81MDLΒ 13.99
41.98%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,155
$0.58MDLΒ 10.00
100.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,182
$1.30MDLΒ 22.33
-31.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,997
$0.89MDLΒ 15.38
-5.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,145
$3.16MDLΒ 54.3
-27.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 38.0K
$4.54MDLΒ 78.1
134.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,284
$1.27MDLΒ 21.84
-5.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,824
$1.94MDLΒ 33.28
27.32%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Dubasari
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,056
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,264
$2.00MDLΒ 34.34
-26.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 7,009
$0.27MDLΒ 4.69
625.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
$5.31MDLΒ 91.2
45.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,409
$1.44MDLΒ 24.71
-34.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.7M
$32.0KMDLΒ 550.4K
-43.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.6M
$30.7KMDLΒ 526.9K
-13.59%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Dubasari
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.7K
$170MDLΒ 2,915
-51.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
$7.47MDLΒ 128
27.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.5K
$10.81MDLΒ 186
124.14%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Dubasari
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.4K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$7.45MDLΒ 128
-47.25%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Dubasari
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$387MDLΒ 6,650
-20.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
$7,611MDLΒ 130.8K
-21.63%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Dubasari
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.5K
$66.8MDLΒ 1,147
-12.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.5K
$52.9MDLΒ 909
-38.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 366.4K
$112MDLΒ 1,932
-8.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 387.2K
$124MDLΒ 2,131
-12.53%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Dubasari
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Dubasari
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
9.24
45.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Dubasari: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
πDining 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 β 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 β expenses run 44% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.