πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $2,042 in Dudley.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $3,237 in Dudley.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $4,433 in Dudley.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 50% less than in Dudley, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 24% below, Dudley is 52% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Dudley
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.3K
$20.54Β£15.30
-70.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 116.9K
$80.1Β£59.7
-58.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.2K
$9.65Β£7.19
-26.53%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,093
$4.63Β£3.45
-63.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,910
$2.06Β£1.53
-46.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,771
$1.65Β£1.23
-52.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,976
$5.29Β£3.94
-68.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 10.9K
$5.34Β£3.98
-42.51%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Dudley
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,892
$1.66Β£1.23
-34.34%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,492
$1.54Β£1.15
-18.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,905
$2.13Β£1.59
-35.21%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,799
$3.62Β£2.69
-39.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$9.69Β£7.22
-54.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.0K
$7.57Β£5.64
-25.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.6K
$14.15Β£10.54
-37.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,319
$2.56Β£1.91
-8.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,764
$1.79Β£1.33
-40.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,355
$2.07Β£1.54
-27.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,906
$2.62Β£1.95
-47.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,097
$0.96Β£0.72
19.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,141
$1.41Β£1.05
-17.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,170
$1.32Β£0.99
-32.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,986
$1.31Β£0.97
-35.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,116
$16.25Β£12.11
-85.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 37.9K
$11.39Β£8.48
-6.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,268
$3.47Β£2.58
-65.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,793
$2.85Β£2.12
-13.33%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Dudley
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,045
$3.24Β£2.41
-73.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.3K
$88.3Β£65.8
-53.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,245
$5.51Β£4.11
-73.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 6,984
$1.22Β£0.91
60.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.5K
$22.46Β£16.73
-65.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,397
$1.90Β£1.42
-50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.5M
$37.9KΒ£28.2K
-52.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.2M
$39.3KΒ£29.2K
-32.53%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Dudley
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 292.7K
$292Β£218
-71.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.8K
$17.50Β£13.03
-45.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.2K
$35.95Β£26.79
-32.60%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Dudley
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.1K
$20.70Β£15.42
25.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.6K
$20.35Β£15.16
-6.63%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$14.74Β£10.98
-73.34%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Dudley
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$1,622Β£1,208
-80.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.2M
$19.1KΒ£14.2K
-68.74%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Dudley
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 208.7K
$73.4Β£54.7
-20.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.1K
$49.20Β£36.66
-34.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 365.1K
$69.1Β£51.5
48.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 385.8K
$92.2Β£68.7
17.56%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Dudley
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$1,235Β£920
-61.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.3M
$824Β£614
-54.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$2,012Β£1,499
-58.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$1,687Β£1,257
-57.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 9.9M
$5,822Β£4,337
-52.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Dudley
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
$2,509Β£1,869
-79.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
5.76
133.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Dudley: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $1,235 in Dudley. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Dudley pays 390% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $80.0 in Dudley for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $282 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 Dudley: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and Dudley?
Medellin and Dudley differ by about 102% in total monthly costs ($1,013 vs $2,042 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Dudley earns 390% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and Dudley?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $1,235 in Dudley. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Dudley?
Childcare runs $309 in Medellin versus $1,622 in Dudley. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Dudley. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $2,042 in Dudley, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Dudley. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Dudley?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Dudley?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet β expenses run 102% less than in Dudley. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.