🙂A single person spends $601 per month in Bac Ninh vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $987 per month in Bac Ninh vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,373 per month in Bac Ninh vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Bac Ninh is about 42% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Bac Ninh and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Bac Ninh55% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bac Ninh
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.17₫30.8K
$5.92COP 21.5K
-80.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.30₫716.9K
$32.75COP 119.1K
-16.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.54₫66.6K
$7.20COP 26.2K
-64.72%
Cappuccino
$1.18₫30.9K
$1.70COP 6,186
-30.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26₫6,778
$1.10COP 3,996
-76.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17₫4,390
$0.72COP 2,625
-76.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.72₫19.0K
$1.67COP 6,067
-56.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94₫24.7K
$3.10COP 11.3K
-69.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bac Ninh
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42₫37.4K
$1.06COP 3,837
33.96%
White Bread(500g)
$0.94₫24.6K
$1.25COP 4,531
-24.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.85₫22.4K
$1.39COP 5,060
-38.85%
Eggs
$1.52₫39.9K
$2.26COP 8,229
-32.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.32₫244.8K
$4.33COP 15.8K
115.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.81₫100.0K
$5.84COP 21.2K
-34.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.52₫249.9K
$8.83COP 32.1K
7.81%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23₫84.9K
$2.24COP 8,159
44.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.01₫26.5K
$1.08COP 3,911
-6.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63₫42.9K
$1.53COP 5,563
6.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.11₫29.2K
$1.37COP 4,987
-18.98%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03₫27.1K
$1.13COP 4,109
-8.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.05₫27.7K
$1.12COP 4,067
-6.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52₫13.6K
$0.85COP 3,080
-38.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53₫14.0K
$0.91COP 3,305
-41.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.38₫36.1K
$2.33COP 8,477
-40.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25₫374.2K
$11.13COP 40.5K
28.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92₫24.1K
$1.19COP 4,342
-22.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84₫48.2K
$2.37COP 8,617
-22.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Bac Ninh
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.31₫8,263
$0.79COP 2,859
-60.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.47₫169.9K
$41.13COP 149.6K
-84.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.80₫20.9K
$1.44COP 5,223
-44.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.57₫15.0K
$1.91COP 6,952
-70.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.65₫43.3K
$8.02COP 29.2K
-79.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91₫23.8K
$0.94COP 3,410
-3.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K₫999.9M
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
112.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K₫842.4M
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
19.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bac Ninh
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.8₫2.1M
$84.0COP 305.4K
-4.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.27₫138.3K
$9.60COP 34.9K
-45.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.72₫176.5K
$24.16COP 87.9K
-72.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bac Ninh
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$11.63₫305.4K
$25.88COP 94.1K
-55.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.74₫203.3K
$19.04COP 69.3K
-59.35%
Cinema Ticket
$3.11₫81.6K
$3.92COP 14.2K
-20.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bac Ninh
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$270₫7.1M
$306COP 1.1M
-11.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,473₫170.0M
$5,919COP 21.5M
9.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bac Ninh
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.21₫1.2M
$57.9COP 210.6K
-21.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.38₫614.0K
$31.82COP 115.7K
-26.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.5₫2.3M
$99.9COP 363.3K
-11.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.6₫1.9M
$107COP 389.7K
-32.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bac Ninh
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$268₫7.1M
$487COP 1.8M
-44.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$151₫4.0M
$368COP 1.3M
-59.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$577₫15.1M
$826COP 3.0M
-30.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$342₫9.0M
$716COP 2.6M
-52.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,650₫43.3M
$2,925COP 10.6M
-43.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$747₫19.6M
$1,407COP 5.1M
-46.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bac Ninh
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$370₫9.7M
$546COP 2.0M
-32.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.1
13.43
-32.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bac Ninh: April 28, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $268 in Bac Ninh versus $487 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 47% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Bac Ninh versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Bac Ninh vs $190 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Ninh vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bac Ninh or Medellin?
Medellin costs about 72% more than Bac Ninh, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bac Ninh vs Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $901 per month in Bac Ninh and $1,550 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bac Ninh or Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bac Ninh, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Bac Ninh compared to Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $601 in Bac Ninh and $1,034 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Bac Ninh vs Medellin?
Public transport costs about 536% less in Bac Ninh. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bac Ninh or Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bac Ninh, where all-in costs run around $601, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Bac Ninh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bac Ninh or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bac Ninh costs $601 versus $1,034 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bac Ninh compared to Medellin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Bac Ninh or Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Bac Ninh. 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.