🙂A single person spends $464 per month in Bac Ninh vs $1,656 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $734 per month in Bac Ninh vs $2,436 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,005 per month in Bac Ninh vs $3,216 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Bac Ninh is about 72% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Bac Ninh sits 66% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bac Ninh
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.13₫29.3K
$7.70COP 25.4K
-85.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.30₫553.2K
$47.79COP 157.4K
-55.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.60₫67.4K
$9.31COP 30.6K
-72.07%
Cappuccino
$1.12₫29.0K
$3.02COP 9,944
-62.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26₫6,729
$1.79COP 5,903
-85.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20₫5,324
$1.50COP 4,933
-86.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.71₫18.6K
$3.25COP 10.7K
-78.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93₫24.3K
$5.74COP 18.9K
-83.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bac Ninh
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47₫38.2K
$1.42COP 4,689
3.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.10₫28.5K
$2.52COP 8,301
-56.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.75₫19.5K
$1.67COP 5,508
-55.09%
Eggs
$1.50₫38.9K
$2.82COP 9,290
-46.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.48₫272.1K
$10.25COP 33.8K
2.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.74₫97.2K
$9.47COP 31.2K
-60.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.10₫262.2K
$13.91COP 45.8K
-27.39%
Apples(1kg)
$3.18₫82.6K
$4.12COP 13.6K
-22.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06₫27.4K
$1.56COP 5,126
-32.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.33₫34.6K
$2.21COP 7,274
-39.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.14₫29.6K
$2.26COP 7,444
-49.56%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97₫25.3K
$1.99COP 6,542
-51.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13₫29.3K
$1.48COP 4,860
-23.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.55₫14.3K
$1.15COP 3,778
-52.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55₫14.3K
$1.24COP 4,093
-55.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.43₫37.1K
$3.96COP 13.0K
-63.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.64₫328.4K
$13.63COP 44.9K
-7.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93₫24.2K
$1.67COP 5,511
-44.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67₫43.5K
$2.75COP 9,044
-39.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Bac Ninh
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₫9,395
$1.17COP 3,847
-69.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$79.5COP 261.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.76₫19.7K
$1.28COP 4,212
-40.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.59₫15.4K
$2.16COP 7,117
-72.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.28₫59.1K
$8.28COP 27.3K
-72.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.89₫23.1K
$1.35COP 4,443
-34.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0K₫803.9M
$27.4KCOP 90.2M
13.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0K₫804.0M
$36.0KCOP 118.7M
-14.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bac Ninh
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.6₫2.2M
$173COP 570.1K
-51.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.04₫131.0K
$13.73COP 45.2K
-63.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.08₫183.9K
$28.34COP 93.3K
-75.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bac Ninh
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$11.65₫302.6K
$44.27COP 145.8K
-73.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.89₫204.9K
$16.63COP 54.8K
-52.56%
Cinema Ticket
$3.14₫81.5K
$6.58COP 21.7K
-52.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bac Ninh
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$685₫17.8M
$799COP 2.6M
-14.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.3K₫319.3M
$9,089COP 29.9M
35.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bac Ninh
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.47₫1.2M
$87.9COP 289.4K
-45.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.67₫666.6K
$58.5COP 192.6K
-56.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.2₫2.2M
$138COP 455.6K
-39.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.1₫2.1M
$97.5COP 321.0K
-15.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bac Ninh
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$698₫18.1M
$1,033COP 3.4M
-32.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$646COP 2.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,847COP 6.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,026COP 3.4M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,660₫43.1M
$4,108COP 13.5M
-59.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$761₫19.8M
$1,678COP 5.5M
-54.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bac Ninh
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$372₫9.7M
$651COP 2.1M
-42.86%
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 Ninh: September 20, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $698 in Bac Ninh versus $1,033 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 75% 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 $21.00 in Bac Ninh versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $297 – making Bac Ninh 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
Bac Ninh vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bac Ninh or Medellin?
Medellin costs about 257% 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 and in Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $695 per month in Bac Ninh and $2,484 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 do dining costs compare in Bac Ninh and in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Bac Ninh and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Bac Ninh or in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 52% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bac Ninh or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bac Ninh, where all-in costs run around $464, than in Medellin at $1,656. 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 $464 versus $1,656 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 to 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.