🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $711 in Bac Giang versus $1,013 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,095 in Bac Giang versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,480 in Bac Giang versus $2,192 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Bac Giang costs roughly 30% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bac Giang47% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bac Giang
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.89₫49.6K
$5.99COP 21.4K
-68.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.63₫410.8K
$32.86COP 117.4K
-52.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.68₫122.9K
$7.09COP 25.3K
-33.99%
Cappuccino
$1.30₫34.1K
$1.71COP 6,115
-23.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37₫9,774
$1.10COP 3,924
-66.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22₫5,790
$0.78COP 2,781
-71.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.53₫13.9K
$1.68COP 5,997
-68.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91₫23.8K
$3.07COP 11.0K
-70.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bac Giang
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38₫36.3K
$1.09COP 3,906
26.61%
White Bread(500g)
$0.94₫24.6K
$1.26COP 4,508
-25.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.90₫23.7K
$1.38COP 4,922
-34.78%
Eggs
$1.50₫39.4K
$2.19COP 7,827
-31.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.32₫244.9K
$4.40COP 15.7K
111.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.77₫99.0K
$5.63COP 20.1K
-33.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.35₫245.7K
$8.89COP 31.8K
5.17%
Apples(1kg)
$3.33₫87.4K
$2.34COP 8,349
42.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06₫27.8K
$1.06COP 3,777
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.60₫42.0K
$1.50COP 5,374
6.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.08₫28.3K
$1.38COP 4,924
-21.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.07₫28.1K
$1.15COP 4,111
-6.96%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06₫27.8K
$1.16COP 4,155
-8.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.56₫14.6K
$0.89COP 3,182
-37.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53₫14.0K
$0.84COP 2,997
-36.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.36₫35.8K
$2.28COP 8,145
-40.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.37₫351.3K
$10.64COP 38.0K
25.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.57₫14.9K
$1.20COP 4,284
-52.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83₫48.0K
$2.47COP 8,824
-25.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Bac Giang
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35₫9,087
$0.86COP 3,056
-59.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.45₫169.4K
$41.40COP 147.9K
-84.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.32₫8,412
$1.47COP 5,264
-78.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.62₫16.3K
$1.96COP 7,009
-68.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.65₫43.3K
$7.74COP 27.6K
-78.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90₫23.7K
$0.95COP 3,409
-5.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K₫1.0B
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
109.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8K₫834.4M
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
19.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bac Giang
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$56.8₫1.5M
$82.3COP 293.7K
-30.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.18₫136.0K
$9.50COP 33.9K
-45.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.66₫227.6K
$24.23COP 86.5K
-64.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bac Giang
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.32₫560.2K
$25.89COP 92.4K
-17.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.72₫202.9K
$19.00COP 67.9K
-59.37%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93₫103.3K
$3.93COP 14.0K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bac Giang
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$261₫6.9M
$309COP 1.1M
-15.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K₫302.5M
$5,965COP 21.3M
93.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bac Giang
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.14₫1.2M
$58.7COP 209.5K
-24.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.10₫606.8K
$32.35COP 115.5K
-28.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.4₫2.4M
$103COP 366.4K
-11.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.9₫1.9M
$108COP 387.2K
-32.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bac Giang
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$219₫5.8M
$476COP 1.7M
-53.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$252₫6.6M
$379COP 1.4M
-33.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$675₫17.7M
$838COP 3.0M
-19.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$458₫12.0M
$724COP 2.6M
-36.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,857₫101.3M
$2,791COP 10.0M
38.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,524₫40.0M
$1,211COP 4.3M
25.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bac Giang
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$212₫5.6M
$512COP 1.8M
-58.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9
13.43
-32.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bac Giang: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $219 in Bac Giang and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 141% 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: $16.00 in Bac Giang vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $188, 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
Bac Giang vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Bac Giang?
Bac Giang is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Bac Giang or Medellin?
On paper, Medellin earns 141% less. 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: $219 in Bac Giang versus $476 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 Medellin?
Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Bac Giang or Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Bac Giang – a meal for two runs $16.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Bac Giang or Medellin?
At $711 in Bac Giang versus $1,013 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 42% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.