Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Biratnagar and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Biratnagar: $320 a month against $1,692 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $16,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Biratnagar, Nepal
Medellin, Colombia
Biratnagar
🇳🇵 Nepal
$320
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Biratnagar and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Biratnagar and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $320 in Biratnagar versus $1,692 in Medellin.

  • Biratnagar $320
  • Medellin $1,692

Estimated couple costs with rent: $525 in Biratnagar versus $2,471 in Medellin.

  • Biratnagar $525
  • Medellin $2,471

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $731 in Biratnagar versus $3,249 in Medellin.

  • Biratnagar $731
  • Medellin $3,249

Living in Biratnagar costs roughly 81% less than in Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Biratnagar is 76% below, Medellin is 25% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.57 NPR 237
$8.34 COP 26.9K
-81.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.00 NPR 2,117
$46.53 COP 150.3K
-69.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.72 NPR 1,167
$9.47 COP 30.6K
-18.48%
Cappuccino
$1.20 NPR 181
$3.13 COP 10.1K
-61.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 NPR 47.70
$1.77 COP 5,705
-81.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.42 COP 4,601
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.46 NPR 221
$3.15 COP 10.2K
-53.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 NPR 316
$5.70 COP 18.4K
-63.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.57 NPR 86.4
$1.53 COP 4,950
-62.75%
White Bread (500g)
$0.38 NPR 57.7
$2.29 COP 7,401
-83.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.59 NPR 89.5
$1.94 COP 6,282
-69.59%
Eggs
$1.21 NPR 183
$3.07 COP 9,905
-60.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.57 NPR 691
$9.99 COP 32.3K
-54.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.73 NPR 413
$10.45 COP 33.7K
-73.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.16 NPR 477
$13.96 COP 45.1K
-77.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.00 NPR 302
$4.05 COP 13.1K
-50.62%
Banana (1kg)
$0.75 NPR 114
$1.53 COP 4,937
-50.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.34 NPR 202
$2.10 COP 6,797
-36.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.52 NPR 79.3
$2.29 COP 7,409
-77.29%
Potato (1kg)
$0.36 NPR 55.1
$2.11 COP 6,813
-82.94%
Onion (1kg)
$0.46 NPR 69.6
$1.71 COP 5,521
-73.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.25 NPR 37.71
$1.17 COP 3,780
-78.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29 NPR 43.37
$1.58 COP 5,104
-81.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.67 NPR 404
$3.91 COP 12.6K
-31.71%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$14.04 COP 45.4K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 NPR 244
$1.76 COP 5,690
-8.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 NPR 352
$2.71 COP 8,760
-14.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.17 NPR 25.00
$1.18 COP 3,811
-85.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.61 NPR 1,755
$76.3 COP 246.4K
-84.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.98 NPR 300
$1.81 COP 5,836
9.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.13 COP 6,878
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.35 NPR 355
$8.13 COP 26.3K
-71.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 NPR 179
$1.28 COP 4,119
-7.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K NPR 3.1M
$34.4K COP 111.2M
-39.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$34.1K COP 110.3M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$178 COP 574.1K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.20 NPR 636
$13.89 COP 44.9K
-69.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.30 NPR 1,406
$30.74 COP 99.3K
-69.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.74 NPR 4,194
$41.94 COP 135.5K
-33.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$1.95 NPR 295
$16.80 COP 54.3K
-88.39%
Cinema Ticket
$3.19 NPR 483
$7.47 COP 24.1K
-57.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$47.75 NPR 7,221
$790 COP 2.6M
-93.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,773 NPR 268.1K
$12.3K COP 39.7M
-85.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.26 NPR 3,063
$86.3 COP 278.9K
-76.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.19 NPR 5,020
$59.3 COP 191.4K
-43.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$24.39 NPR 3,688
$138 COP 446.9K
-82.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.19 NPR 4,413
$98.8 COP 319.2K
-70.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$46.79 NPR 7,076
$1,341 COP 4.3M
-96.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$52.3 NPR 7,905
$667 COP 2.2M
-92.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$132 NPR 20.0K
$1,976 COP 6.4M
-93.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$97.5 NPR 14.7K
$1,033 COP 3.3M
-90.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$396 NPR 59.9K
$4,098 COP 13.2M
-90.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$267 NPR 40.3K
$1,940 COP 6.3M
-86.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 NPR 24.9K
$646 COP 2.1M
-74.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14
10.94
27.97%

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

Last update for Biratnagar: November 2, 2026

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Biratnagar
$95 *
Medellin
$307 223% $212
Eating Out
Biratnagar
$63 *
Medellin
$173 175% $110
Accommodation & Living
Biratnagar
$52
Medellin
$667 1176% $615
Clothing & Footwear
Biratnagar
$48
Medellin
$172 258% $124
Sport & Entertainment
Biratnagar
$34
Medellin
$57 66.7% $23
Getting Around
Biratnagar
$14 *
Medellin
$93 556% $79
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Biratnagar
$14 *
Medellin
$222 1547% $209

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $47 in Biratnagar and $1,341 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays about 3.9 times 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: $14 in Biratnagar vs $47 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95 vs $307 per month, with Biratnagar cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇳🇵 Biratnagar
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
16:12 4:12 PM
05:27 5:27 AM
10 h 45 min behind Biratnagar
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
166,674
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Nepalese Rupee NPR रु
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to NPR – Nepalese Rupee Converter

Nepalese Rupee exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 151 NPR (1,000 NPR = 6.61 USD). 1 EUR = 170 NPR (1,000 NPR = 5.89 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3,230 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,628 COP (10,000 COP = 2.76 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Biratnagar Medellin 15,930 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Biratnagar
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Biratnagar cheaper than Medellin?
Biratnagar is about 81% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Biratnagar or Medellin?
On paper, salaries run 75% lower in Biratnagar. 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: $47 in Biratnagar versus $1,341 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 223% 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 $14 versus $47 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Biratnagar or in Medellin?
At $320 in Biratnagar versus $1,692 in Medellin, a $1,000 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 it better to live in Biratnagar or in Medellin?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Biratnagar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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