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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $880 in Duncans, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,432 in Duncans, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,985 in Duncans, rent included.

Medellin costs about 16% more than Duncans, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Duncans are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Duncans 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 21.2K

$7.56 JMD 1,189

-21.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 118.9K

$63.2 JMD 9,945

-47.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.8K

$8.58 JMD 1,349

-15.73%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,811

$4.32 JMD 680

-62.27%

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

$1.09 COP 3,904

$1.30 JMD 205

-16.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,604

$0.75 JMD 118

-2.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,197

$2.43 JMD 382

-28.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.5K

$3.16 JMD 498

2.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,742

$4.34 JMD 683

-75.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,614

$3.48 JMD 547

-62.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,718

$1.63 JMD 257

-19.02%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 8,101

$3.59 JMD 564

-36.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.5K

$11.12 JMD 1,748

-60.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 21.0K

$6.52 JMD 1,025

-9.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.7K

$7.49 JMD 1,177

14.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 8,015

$6.09 JMD 959

-63.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,814

$3.14 JMD 494

-65.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,438

$4.18 JMD 657

-63.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 5,073

$3.04 JMD 478

-53.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,173

$2.04 JMD 321

-42.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,166

$1.94 JMD 305

-39.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,163

$2.99 JMD 470

-70.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,215

$1.49 JMD 234

-39.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 8,008

$8.66 JMD 1,362

-74.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 39.4K

$11.33 JMD 1,783

-2.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 4,063

$2.87 JMD 451

-60.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,483

$3.17 JMD 498

-24.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,979

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 149.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 5,019

$1.07 JMD 168

31.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,779

$3.09 JMD 486

-38.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.6K

$6.44 JMD 1,013

20.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,586

$1.29 JMD 203

-21.71%

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

$17.6K COP 62.7M

$42.1K JMD 6.6M

-58.26%

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

$26.5K COP 94.5M

$33.0K JMD 5.2M

-19.72%

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

$83.7 COP 298.4K

$163 JMD 25.6K

-48.57%

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

$9.45 COP 33.7K

$22.31 JMD 3,509

-57.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 86.0K

$50.5 JMD 7,942

-52.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 90.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 68.3K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.6K

$12.92 JMD 2,032

-68.27%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$225 JMD 35.4K

38.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 21.4M

$2,464 JMD 387.5K

143.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 207.0K

$26.26 JMD 4,130

121.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 116.1K

$25.90 JMD 4,074

25.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 355.3K

$71.3 JMD 11.2K

39.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 387.1K

$75.2 JMD 11.8K

44.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 10.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Duncans: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $63.0 in Duncans. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $352 – 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 16%, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,319 in Duncans. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $880 in Duncans. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Medellin and $225 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 $880, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.