😐A single person spends $2,662 per month in The Dalles, OR vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,880 per month in The Dalles, OR vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,097 per month in The Dalles, OR vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
😐The Dalles, OR costs about 166% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The Dalles, OR sits 100% above the global median, while Medellin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
The Dalles, OR
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.99$26.99
$5.91COP 18.9K
356.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.2$71.2
$32.96COP 105.2K
116.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.80$11.80
$7.43COP 23.7K
58.82%
Cappuccino
$6.11$6.11
$1.65COP 5,276
270.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37$3.37
$1.10COP 3,514
206.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73$2.73
$0.78COP 2,491
250.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.80$6.80
$1.72COP 5,484
295.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.06$6.06
$3.18COP 10.1K
90.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
The Dalles, OR
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00$1.00
$1.10COP 3,521
-9.09%
White Bread(500g)
$3.39$3.39
$1.26COP 4,015
169.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.22$4.22
$1.38COP 4,407
205.80%
Eggs
$2.95$2.95
$2.18COP 6,950
35.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.46$17.46
$4.49COP 14.3K
288.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.36$10.36
$5.79COP 18.5K
78.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.84$10.84
$8.97COP 28.6K
20.85%
Apples(1kg)
$6.69$6.69
$2.32COP 7,405
188.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59$1.59
$1.06COP 3,397
50.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.19$4.19
$1.52COP 4,838
175.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.32$4.32
$1.36COP 4,327
217.65%
Potato(1kg)
$3.02$3.02
$1.13COP 3,599
167.26%
Onion(1kg)
$2.77$2.77
$1.17COP 3,738
136.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.55$2.55
$0.90COP 2,876
183.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.98$1.98
$0.90COP 2,861
120.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.31$12.31
$2.23COP 7,128
452.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.98$14.98
$12.12COP 38.7K
23.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97$1.97
$1.19COP 3,793
65.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74$4.74
$2.48COP 7,920
91.13%
🚌 Getting Around
The Dalles, OR
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.04$2.04
$0.85COP 2,723
140.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.26$45.26
$41.62COP 132.8K
8.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.88$4.88
$1.42COP 4,518
243.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.27$1.27
$1.95COP 6,223
-34.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$52.9$52.9
$7.89COP 25.2K
570.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13$1.13
$0.99COP 3,160
14.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K$35.5K
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
101.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K$26.2K
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
-2.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
The Dalles, OR
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124$124
$83.0COP 264.9K
49.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.8$60.8
$9.70COP 30.9K
526.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.5$70.5
$23.52COP 75.0K
199.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
The Dalles, OR
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.20$43.20
$25.26COP 80.6K
71.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.10COP 60.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.84$10.84
$3.95COP 12.6K
174.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
The Dalles, OR
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$998$998
$316COP 1.0M
216.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.8K$23.8K
$5,975COP 19.1M
297.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
The Dalles, OR
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.64$40.64
$60.0COP 191.4K
-32.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.86$34.86
$31.82COP 101.5K
9.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.0$60.0
$102COP 324.4K
-40.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.1$81.1
$107COP 342.8K
-24.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
The Dalles, OR
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,572$1,572
$475COP 1.5M
230.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,359$1,359
$374COP 1.2M
263.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,645$2,645
$849COP 2.7M
211.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,260$2,260
$719COP 2.3M
214.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,901$2,901
$3,265COP 10.4M
-11.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,268$2,268
$1,441COP 4.6M
57.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
The Dalles, OR
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$624COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.66
13.43
-50.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for The Dalles, OR: July 28, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,572 in The Dalles, OR versus $475 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in The Dalles, OR versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $388 vs $193 – 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
The Dalles, OR vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than The Dalles, OR?
Yes – The Dalles, OR is pricier by about 166%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,994 per month in The Dalles, OR and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in The Dalles, OR or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in The Dalles, OR and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in The Dalles, OR and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,662 in The Dalles, OR and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in The Dalles, OR or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in The Dalles, OR at $2,662. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in The Dalles, OR it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is The Dalles, OR or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, The Dalles, OR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
The Dalles, OR vs other spots: cost of living compared