Cost of Living Comparison Between Binh Duong and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Binh Duong and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $581 in Binh Duong versus $1,681 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $953 in Binh Duong versus $2,445 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,324 in Binh Duong versus $3,210 in Medellin.

Living in Binh Duong costs roughly 65% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Binh Duong is 58% below, Medellin is 23% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.12 ₫55.2K

$8.02 COP 25.4K

-73.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.98 ₫597.9K

$47.87 COP 152.0K

-51.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.43 ₫89.3K

$9.89 COP 31.4K

-65.32%

Cappuccino

$1.65 ₫42.9K

$3.13 COP 9,937

-47.28%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₫12.8K

$1.91 COP 6,058

-74.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₫7,201

$1.51 COP 4,794

-81.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.71 ₫18.5K

$3.12 COP 9,917

-77.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 ₫25.4K

$5.75 COP 18.3K

-82.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 ₫42.5K

$1.44 COP 4,587

13.19%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 ₫20.8K

$2.49 COP 7,894

-67.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.60 ₫15.6K

$1.77 COP 5,631

-66.10%

Eggs

$1.54 ₫40.0K

$2.96 COP 9,396

-47.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.56 ₫300.8K

$10.07 COP 32.0K

14.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.36 ₫87.4K

$10.12 COP 32.1K

-66.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.10 ₫262.8K

$14.30 COP 45.4K

-29.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.09 ₫54.3K

$4.14 COP 13.1K

-49.52%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 ₫14.7K

$1.61 COP 5,106

-65.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.66 ₫17.3K

$2.25 COP 7,129

-70.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 ₫27.1K

$2.25 COP 7,150

-53.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 ₫24.0K

$2.04 COP 6,486

-54.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 ₫26.8K

$1.54 COP 4,873

-33.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 ₫20.5K

$1.17 COP 3,715

-32.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₫11.9K

$1.31 COP 4,148

-64.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.79 ₫20.5K

$3.90 COP 12.4K

-79.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.83 ₫255.7K

$14.01 COP 44.5K

-29.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ₫15.7K

$1.74 COP 5,534

-64.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₫25.6K

$2.87 COP 9,112

-65.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ₫8,307

$1.22 COP 3,858

-73.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.35 ₫165.1K

$80.5 COP 255.5K

-92.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.36 ₫9,450

$1.31 COP 4,155

-72.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ₫14.5K

$2.19 COP 6,944

-74.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 ₫82.2K

$8.71 COP 27.7K

-63.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 ₫22.0K

$1.37 COP 4,334

-38.69%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.4K ₫791.5M

$27.8K COP 88.4M

9.28%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.1K ₫809.4M

$35.8K COP 113.6M

-13.04%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$39.17 ₫1.0M

$177 COP 562.9K

-77.91%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$5.92 ₫154.1K

$13.88 COP 44.1K

-57.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.54 ₫170.2K

$29.72 COP 94.4K

-77.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.40 ₫582.7K

$44.88 COP 142.5K

-50.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.77 ₫202.2K

$17.12 COP 54.4K

-54.61%

Cinema Ticket

$2.95 ₫76.7K

$6.65 COP 21.1K

-55.64%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$391 ₫10.2M

$813 COP 2.6M

-51.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K ₫599.9M

$9,187 COP 29.2M

150.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.03 ₫833.4K

$89.5 COP 284.1K

-64.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.51 ₫403.7K

$59.0 COP 187.2K

-73.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.0 ₫2.0M

$138 COP 438.8K

-43.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.8 ₫1.8M

$102 COP 324.2K

-33.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₫6.8M

$1,062 COP 3.4M

-75.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$162 ₫4.2M

$663 COP 2.1M

-75.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 ₫15.8M

$1,888 COP 6.0M

-67.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$377 ₫9.8M

$1,027 COP 3.3M

-63.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,562 ₫40.6M

$4,183 COP 13.3M

-62.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$965 ₫25.1M

$1,675 COP 5.3M

-42.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$343 ₫8.9M

$678 COP 2.2M

-49.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.64

10.94

-21.02%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Binh Duong: September 15, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $261 in Binh Duong and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 97% 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: $23.00 in Binh Duong vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $305 per month, with Binh Duong 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

Binh Duong vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Binh Duong and Medellin differ by about 189% in total monthly costs ($581 vs $1,681 including rent). Binh Duong is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 97% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $261 in Binh Duong versus $1,062 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Binh Duong – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $581 per month in Binh Duong versus $1,681 in Medellin – a 189% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $581 in Binh Duong versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Binh Duong but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Binh Duong the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Binh Duong 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.

Expats usually find Binh Duong gentler on the wallet – expenses run 189% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.