Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Duncans Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Duncans

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,018 per month in Medellin vs $900 in Duncans, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,609 per month in Medellin vs $1,459 in Duncans, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,200 per month in Medellin vs $2,018 in Duncans, rent included.

Medellin costs about 13% more than Duncans, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Duncans are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Duncans 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.93 COP 19.1K

$7.42 JMD 1,168

-20.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.12 COP 106.5K

$62.4 JMD 9,821

-46.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.12 COP 22.9K

$8.78 JMD 1,383

-18.91%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 5,484

$4.30 JMD 678

-60.23%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 COP 3,373

$1.30 JMD 205

-19.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,323

$0.70 JMD 111

2.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,529

$2.56 JMD 403

-32.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.2K

$3.09 JMD 486

2.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,425

$4.19 JMD 659

-74.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 COP 4,213

$3.59 JMD 566

-63.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 COP 4,277

$1.62 JMD 256

-17.90%

Eggs

$2.28 COP 7,334

$3.43 JMD 540

-33.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.42 COP 14.2K

$11.25 JMD 1,772

-60.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.92 COP 19.0K

$6.32 JMD 996

-6.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 27.8K

$7.56 JMD 1,190

14.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 7,541

$5.88 JMD 926

-60.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 COP 3,544

$3.09 JMD 486

-64.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 COP 4,721

$4.18 JMD 659

-64.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,437

$3.06 JMD 481

-54.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,772

$2.11 JMD 332

-44.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,763

$2.03 JMD 319

-42.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,904

$3.13 JMD 492

-71.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,707

$1.51 JMD 237

-44.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 7,486

$8.53 JMD 1,344

-72.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.92 COP 38.3K

$11.47 JMD 1,806

3.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 COP 3,692

$2.75 JMD 433

-58.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 COP 7,787

$3.11 JMD 490

-22.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,700

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.83 COP 131.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,539

$1.07 JMD 169

31.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,157

$3.22 JMD 507

-40.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.83 COP 25.2K

$6.43 JMD 1,013

21.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,035

$1.23 JMD 193

-23.58%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.8K COP 57.3M

$43.3K JMD 6.8M

-58.83%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.1K COP 87.1M

$33.3K JMD 5.2M

-18.75%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.3 COP 267.8K

$161 JMD 25.3K

-48.28%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.66 COP 31.1K

$21.75 JMD 3,425

-55.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.22 COP 77.9K

$51.3 JMD 8,082

-52.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.22 COP 81.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.33 COP 62.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.07 COP 13.1K

$13.28 JMD 2,092

-69.35%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$307 COP 986.0K

$222 JMD 35.0K

37.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,981 COP 19.2M

$2,499 JMD 393.6K

139.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 192.8K

$25.79 JMD 4,062

132.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.65 COP 105.0K

$25.46 JMD 4,010

28.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 325.1K

$70.5 JMD 11.1K

43.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 347.5K

$77.4 JMD 12.2K

39.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$816 COP 2.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$707 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,190 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,446 COP 4.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$622 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

9.15

46.78%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026

Last update for Duncans: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $62.0 in Duncans. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $350 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Duncans: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,527 per month in Medellin and $1,349 in Duncans. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,018 in Medellin and $900 in Duncans. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Medellin and $222 in Duncans. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Duncans, where all-in costs run around $900, than in Medellin at $1,018. In Duncans it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Duncans – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Duncans. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.