🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $376 in Biratnagar versus $1,003 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $633 in Biratnagar versus $1,573 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $890 in Biratnagar versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Biratnagar costs roughly 62% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Biratnagar72% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.76NPR 268
$5.91COP 18.6K
-70.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.89NPR 2,730
$32.96COP 103.8K
-45.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31NPR 1,268
$7.43COP 23.4K
11.84%
Cappuccino
$1.45NPR 221
$1.65COP 5,207
-12.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38NPR 57.3
$1.10COP 3,468
-65.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19NPR 28.81
$0.78COP 2,458
-75.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69NPR 257
$1.72COP 5,412
-1.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49NPR 381
$3.18COP 10.0K
-21.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.64NPR 97.0
$1.10COP 3,474
-41.82%
White Bread(500g)
$0.43NPR 65.4
$1.26COP 3,962
-65.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.67NPR 102
$1.38COP 4,349
-51.45%
Eggs
$1.35NPR 206
$2.18COP 6,858
-38.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.17NPR 789
$4.49COP 14.1K
15.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.94NPR 449
$5.79COP 18.2K
-49.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.54NPR 540
$8.97COP 28.2K
-60.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24NPR 342
$2.32COP 7,308
-3.45%
Banana(1kg)
$0.90NPR 137
$1.06COP 3,352
-15.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50NPR 229
$1.52COP 4,774
-1.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57NPR 87.6
$1.36COP 4,270
-58.09%
Potato(1kg)
$0.44NPR 67.0
$1.13COP 3,552
-61.06%
Onion(1kg)
$0.48NPR 74.0
$1.17COP 3,689
-58.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52NPR 79.9
$0.90COP 2,838
-42.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35NPR 52.8
$0.90COP 2,823
-61.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99NPR 457
$2.23COP 7,034
34.08%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$12.12COP 38.2K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.37NPR 362
$1.19COP 3,743
99.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33NPR 509
$2.48COP 7,815
34.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.15NPR 22.87
$0.85COP 2,687
-82.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.12NPR 2,003
$41.62COP 131.0K
-68.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.19NPR 335
$1.42COP 4,459
54.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.83NPR 126
$1.95COP 6,141
-57.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.53NPR 387
$7.89COP 24.8K
-67.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32NPR 201
$0.99COP 3,118
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4KNPR 4.9M
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
83.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.2KNPR 6.3M
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
53.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$26.27NPR 4,010
$83.0COP 261.4K
-68.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.60NPR 703
$9.70COP 30.5K
-52.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.01NPR 1,527
$23.52COP 74.1K
-57.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.97NPR 2,743
$25.26COP 79.5K
-28.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.17NPR 331
$19.10COP 60.1K
-88.64%
Cinema Ticket
$3.43NPR 523
$3.95COP 12.4K
-13.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$51.9NPR 7,918
$316COP 994.2K
-83.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,920NPR 293.0K
$5,975COP 18.8M
-67.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.90NPR 3,800
$60.0COP 188.9K
-58.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.79NPR 5,463
$31.82COP 100.2K
12.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$27.08NPR 4,133
$102COP 320.1K
-73.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.44NPR 4,951
$107COP 338.3K
-69.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$103NPR 15.8K
$475COP 1.5M
-78.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$59.1NPR 9,027
$374COP 1.2M
-84.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$206NPR 31.5K
$849COP 2.7M
-75.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$144NPR 21.9K
$719COP 2.3M
-80.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$395NPR 60.4K
$3,265COP 10.3M
-87.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$260NPR 39.6K
$1,441COP 4.5M
-81.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$163NPR 24.9K
$624COP 2.0M
-73.88%
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: July 28, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $103 in Biratnagar and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 283% 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 $193 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 166% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Biratnagar or Medellin?
On paper, salaries run 283% 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.
What is the rent difference between Biratnagar and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $103 in Biratnagar versus $475 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 in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 73% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Biratnagar or in 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 living in Biratnagar or in Medellin?
At $376 in Biratnagar versus $1,003 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 166% 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