🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $381 in Biratnagar versus $1,034 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $630 in Biratnagar versus $1,577 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $880 in Biratnagar versus $2,120 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Biratnagar costs roughly 63% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Biratnagar72% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.67NPR 254
$5.92COP 21.4K
-71.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.37NPR 2,791
$32.75COP 118.2K
-43.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.46NPR 1,286
$7.20COP 26.0K
17.50%
Cappuccino
$1.50NPR 228
$1.70COP 6,140
-11.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35NPR 52.8
$1.10COP 3,966
-68.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18NPR 27.81
$0.72COP 2,605
-75.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.61NPR 245
$1.67COP 6,022
-3.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59NPR 393
$3.10COP 11.2K
-16.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.69NPR 104
$1.06COP 3,809
-34.91%
White Bread(500g)
$0.39NPR 59.8
$1.25COP 4,497
-68.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.72NPR 109
$1.39COP 5,022
-48.20%
Eggs
$1.34NPR 203
$2.26COP 8,168
-40.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.22NPR 792
$4.33COP 15.6K
20.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03NPR 461
$5.84COP 21.1K
-48.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.55NPR 540
$8.83COP 31.9K
-59.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.15NPR 326
$2.24COP 8,099
-4.02%
Banana(1kg)
$0.90NPR 137
$1.08COP 3,882
-16.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.48NPR 224
$1.53COP 5,522
-3.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.55NPR 83.4
$1.37COP 4,950
-59.85%
Potato(1kg)
$0.41NPR 61.8
$1.13COP 4,078
-63.72%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49NPR 74.4
$1.12COP 4,036
-56.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52NPR 79.5
$0.85COP 3,057
-38.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34NPR 52.1
$0.91COP 3,281
-62.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.83NPR 430
$2.33COP 8,414
21.46%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$11.13COP 40.2K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33NPR 354
$1.19COP 4,309
95.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37NPR 512
$2.37COP 8,553
42.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17NPR 26.54
$0.79COP 2,838
-78.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.25NPR 2,013
$41.13COP 148.5K
-67.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.12NPR 322
$1.44COP 5,184
47.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80NPR 122
$1.91COP 6,901
-58.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.61NPR 396
$8.02COP 28.9K
-67.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31NPR 198
$0.94COP 3,385
39.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.5KNPR 4.8M
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
75.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.3KNPR 6.3M
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
54.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$26.35NPR 4,003
$84.0COP 303.1K
-68.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.74NPR 720
$9.60COP 34.7K
-50.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.35NPR 1,572
$24.16COP 87.2K
-57.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.29NPR 2,779
$25.88COP 93.4K
-29.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.24NPR 340
$19.04COP 68.7K
-88.24%
Cinema Ticket
$3.38NPR 514
$3.92COP 14.1K
-13.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$52.9NPR 8,035
$306COP 1.1M
-82.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,952NPR 296.6K
$5,919COP 21.4M
-67.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.15NPR 3,820
$57.9COP 209.1K
-56.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.61NPR 5,562
$31.82COP 114.9K
15.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$27.80NPR 4,224
$99.9COP 360.6K
-72.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.26NPR 5,053
$107COP 386.8K
-68.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$105NPR 16.0K
$487COP 1.8M
-78.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$58.2NPR 8,839
$368COP 1.3M
-84.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$207NPR 31.5K
$826COP 3.0M
-74.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$144NPR 21.9K
$716COP 2.6M
-79.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$391NPR 59.5K
$2,925COP 10.6M
-86.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$261NPR 39.6K
$1,407COP 5.1M
-81.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$166NPR 25.2K
$546COP 2.0M
-69.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14
13.43
4.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Biratnagar: April 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $105 in Biratnagar and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 228% 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: $18.00 in Biratnagar vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $112 vs $190 per month, with Biratnagar 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
Biratnagar vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Biratnagar?
Biratnagar is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 171% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Biratnagar or Medellin?
On paper, Medellin earns 228% 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 Biratnagar and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $105 in Biratnagar versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Biratnagar and Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 69% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Biratnagar or Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Biratnagar – a meal for two runs $18.00 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 Biratnagar or Medellin?
At $381 in Biratnagar versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Biratnagar but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Biratnagar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Biratnagar or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Biratnagar 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Biratnagar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 171% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Biratnagar vs other spots: cost of living compared