😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $935 in Durazno.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $1,483 in Durazno.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $2,032 in Durazno.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 80% more expensive than in Durazno, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Durazno is 32% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Durazno
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.5K
$12.64UYU 508
-36.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 152.0K
$37.68UYU 1,513
27.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.4K
$11.27UYU 453
-12.24%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,941
$3.06UYU 123
2.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,061
$1.23UYU 49.36
55.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,796
$1.09UYU 43.67
38.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,921
$2.30UYU 92.2
35.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.3K
$2.18UYU 87.7
163.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Durazno
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,590
$1.17UYU 47.13
23.08%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,898
$2.79UYU 112
-10.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,634
$1.75UYU 70.1
1.14%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,400
$4.32UYU 173
-31.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 32.0K
$12.08UYU 485
-16.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 32.1K
$11.58UYU 465
-12.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.4K
$11.71UYU 470
22.12%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.1K
$3.07UYU 123
34.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,109
$3.31UYU 133
-51.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,132
$2.18UYU 87.6
3.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,154
$4.11UYU 165
-45.26%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,489
$2.11UYU 84.8
-3.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,876
$1.99UYU 79.8
-22.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,716
$1.51UYU 60.8
-22.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,150
$1.95UYU 78.5
-32.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.4K
$10.12UYU 407
-61.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.5K
$8.12UYU 326
72.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,536
$3.03UYU 122
-42.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,116
$3.32UYU 133
-13.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Durazno
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,860
$0.73UYU 29.17
67.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 255.6K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,157
$3.45UYU 139
-62.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,947
$3.38UYU 136
-35.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.7K
$10.13UYU 407
-14.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,336
$1.88UYU 75.7
-27.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
$36.5KUYU 1.5M
-23.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
$40.0KUYU 1.6M
-10.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Durazno
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 563.1K
$113UYU 4,538
56.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 44.1K
$24.09UYU 967
-42.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 94.4K
$47.70UYU 1,916
-37.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Durazno
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 142.6K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.1K
$6.84UYU 275
-2.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Durazno
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$487UYU 19.6K
66.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.2M
$6,563UYU 263.6K
39.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Durazno
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 284.3K
$87.9UYU 3,531
1.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 187.3K
$37.46UYU 1,504
57.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 439.0K
$164UYU 6,582
-15.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 324.4K
$118UYU 4,743
-13.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Durazno
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.4M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Durazno
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.2M
-
-
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: September 14, 2026
Last update for Durazno: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $38.00 in Durazno. Groceries flip the comparison at $305 vs $335, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.
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 Durazno: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Durazno?
Durazno wins on cost – living expenses run 80% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Durazno the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Durazno?
You'd need roughly $2,521 in Medellin and $1,403 in Durazno 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 childcare costs compare in Medellin and in Durazno?
Childcare runs $813 in Medellin versus $487 in Durazno. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Durazno?
Dining out is cheaper in Durazno – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Durazno?
At $935 in Durazno versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Durazno but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Durazno the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Durazno?
Both work as nomad bases, but Durazno delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $935 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Durazno hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Durazno?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Durazno 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Durazno gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.