🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,716 in Medellin versus $2,168 in Dudley.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,527 in Medellin versus $2,442 in Dudley.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,338 in Medellin versus $2,715 in Dudley.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 21% less than in Dudley, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin25% above, Dudley58% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Dudley
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03COP 25.1K
$21.23£15.71
-62.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26COP 151.0K
$100£74.1
-51.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77COP 30.6K
$9.38£6.94
4.16%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,107
$5.17£3.83
-43.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94COP 6,082
$2.62£1.94
-25.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52COP 4,760
$1.94£1.44
-21.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09COP 9,676
$6.75£4.99
-54.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74COP 18.0K
$6.64£4.91
-13.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Dudley
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,267
$1.94£1.44
-29.90%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39COP 7,470
$1.51£1.12
58.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,321
$2.45£1.81
-30.61%
Eggs
$2.87COP 8,979
$3.81£2.82
-24.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94COP 31.1K
$8.61£6.37
15.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.78COP 33.7K
$8.51£6.29
26.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73COP 46.1K
$15.69£11.61
-6.12%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09COP 12.8K
$2.52£1.87
62.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57COP 4,917
$2.01£1.48
-21.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13COP 6,651
$2.53£1.87
-15.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21COP 6,926
$3.76£2.78
-41.22%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05COP 6,404
$1.50£1.11
36.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50COP 4,706
$1.65£1.22
-9.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19COP 3,723
$1.11£0.82
7.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16COP 3,623
$1.43£1.06
-18.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$22.64£16.75
-82.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.44COP 45.2K
$11.04£8.16
30.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58COP 4,955
$3.23£2.39
-51.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83COP 8,847
$3.33£2.46
-15.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Dudley
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,655
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.7COP 243.2K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28COP 4,019
$4.65£3.44
-72.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09COP 6,546
$1.66£1.23
25.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.62COP 27.0K
$24.13£17.85
-64.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30COP 4,061
$1.97£1.46
-34.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KCOP 86.5M
$38.7K£28.6K
-28.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KCOP 111.1M
$41.1K£30.4K
-13.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Dudley
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176COP 550.9K
$332£246
-46.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37COP 41.8K
$20.11£14.88
-33.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89COP 93.5K
$41.28£30.54
-27.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Dudley
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.76COP 140.0K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06COP 53.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.20COP 19.4K
$15.44£11.42
-59.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Dudley
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$793COP 2.5M
$1,665£1,232
-52.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,019COP 28.2M
$21.0K£15.5K
-56.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Dudley
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6COP 267.8K
$109£81.0
-21.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5COP 182.9K
$50.4£37.25
16.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136COP 426.4K
$87.4£64.7
55.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103COP 322.6K
$101£74.7
2.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Dudley
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,060COP 3.3M
$1,284£950
-17.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680COP 2.1M
$947£700
-28.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012COP 6.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,169COP 3.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,111COP 12.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,701COP 5.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Dudley
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665COP 2.1M
$2,576£1,906
-74.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
5
118.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Last update for Dudley: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,060 in Medellin and $1,284 in Dudley. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Dudley pays 287% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $100 in Dudley for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $303 vs $303 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 in Dudley?
Medellin and Dudley differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($1,716 vs $2,168 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 287% lower in Dudley. 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 in Dudley?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,060 in Medellin versus $1,284 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 $793 in Medellin versus $1,665 in Dudley. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $100 in Dudley. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,716 in Medellin versus $2,168 in Dudley, a $2,500 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 – 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 – expenses run 26% less than in Dudley. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.