🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $764 in Bac Giang versus $1,716 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,213 in Bac Giang versus $2,527 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,663 in Bac Giang versus $3,338 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Bac Giang costs roughly 56% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bac Giang is 44% below, Medellin is 25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bac Giang
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94₫50.5K
$8.03COP 25.3K
-75.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.03₫391.8K
$48.26COP 152.0K
-68.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.51₫117.5K
$9.77COP 30.8K
-53.84%
Cappuccino
$1.90₫49.6K
$2.91COP 9,167
-34.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39₫10.3K
$1.94COP 6,122
-79.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28₫7,360
$1.52COP 4,792
-81.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.79₫20.7K
$3.09COP 9,740
-74.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92₫24.1K
$5.74COP 18.1K
-83.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bac Giang
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53₫39.9K
$1.36COP 4,296
12.50%
White Bread(500g)
$0.99₫25.8K
$2.39COP 7,519
-58.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.78₫20.4K
$1.70COP 5,356
-54.12%
Eggs
$1.44₫37.5K
$2.87COP 9,038
-49.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.25₫267.3K
$9.94COP 31.3K
3.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.80₫99.0K
$10.78COP 34.0K
-64.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.68₫252.3K
$14.73COP 46.4K
-34.28%
Apples(1kg)
$3.21₫83.8K
$4.09COP 12.9K
-21.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06₫27.5K
$1.57COP 4,950
-32.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.33₫34.7K
$2.13COP 6,695
-37.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.09₫28.5K
$2.21COP 6,972
-50.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00₫26.0K
$2.05COP 6,447
-51.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.09₫28.4K
$1.50COP 4,737
-27.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.54₫14.1K
$1.19COP 3,747
-54.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51₫13.3K
$1.16COP 3,647
-56.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.40₫36.6K
$3.90COP 12.3K
-64.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.32₫347.4K
$14.44COP 45.5K
-7.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89₫23.3K
$1.58COP 4,987
-43.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64₫42.8K
$2.83COP 8,905
-42.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Bac Giang
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34₫8,755
$1.17COP 3,679
-70.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.61₫172.3K
$77.7COP 244.8K
-91.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79₫20.7K
$1.28COP 4,045
-38.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.60₫15.6K
$2.09COP 6,589
-71.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.23₫58.0K
$8.62COP 27.1K
-74.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.89₫23.3K
$1.30COP 4,088
-31.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K₫801.2M
$27.7KCOP 87.1M
11.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7K₫800.4M
$35.5KCOP 111.8M
-13.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bac Giang
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.0₫2.1M
$176COP 554.5K
-53.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.18₫135.0K
$13.37COP 42.1K
-61.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.95₫233.3K
$29.89COP 94.1K
-70.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bac Giang
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.32₫581.8K
$44.76COP 141.0K
-50.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.69₫200.4K
$17.06COP 53.7K
-54.92%
Cinema Ticket
$4.17₫108.7K
$6.20COP 19.5K
-32.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bac Giang
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$158₫4.1M
$793COP 2.5M
-80.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$27.3K₫710.8M
$9,019COP 28.4M
202.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bac Giang
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.34₫1.3M
$85.6COP 269.6K
-42.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.74₫697.1K
$58.5COP 184.1K
-54.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.6₫2.1M
$136COP 429.3K
-40.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.1₫2.1M
$103COP 324.7K
-20.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bac Giang
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$143₫3.7M
$1,060COP 3.3M
-86.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$269₫7.0M
$680COP 2.1M
-60.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$755₫19.7M
$2,012COP 6.3M
-62.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$613₫16.0M
$1,169COP 3.7M
-47.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,879₫75.1M
$4,111COP 12.9M
-29.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,278₫33.3M
$1,701COP 5.4M
-24.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bac Giang
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$209₫5.5M
$665COP 2.1M
-68.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.45
10.94
-22.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bac Giang: August 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $143 in Bac Giang and $1,060 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 218% 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: $15.00 in Bac Giang vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $303 per month, with Bac Giang 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
Bac Giang vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Bac Giang?
Bac Giang is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 125% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Bac Giang or Medellin?
On paper, salaries run 218% lower in Medellin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Bac Giang and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $143 in Bac Giang versus $1,060 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Bac Giang and in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 56% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Bac Giang or in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Bac Giang – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Bac Giang or in Medellin?
At $764 in Bac Giang versus $1,716 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bac Giang but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Bac Giang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Bac Giang or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Bac Giang is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Bac Giang or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Bac Giang and Medellin 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Bac Giang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 125% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.