🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $389 in Biratnagar versus $1,017 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $634 in Biratnagar versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $879 in Biratnagar versus $2,188 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Biratnagar costs roughly 62% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Biratnagar71% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.67NPR 255
$5.95COP 20.8K
-71.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.05NPR 2,746
$33.33COP 116.3K
-45.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.27NPR 1,259
$7.23COP 25.2K
14.38%
Cappuccino
$1.46NPR 222
$1.63COP 5,687
-10.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37NPR 56.4
$1.09COP 3,821
-66.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17NPR 26.01
$0.73COP 2,548
-76.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.66NPR 253
$1.74COP 6,065
-4.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52NPR 383
$3.23COP 11.3K
-21.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.69NPR 105
$1.05COP 3,662
-34.29%
White Bread(500g)
$0.42NPR 64.3
$1.29COP 4,515
-67.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.67NPR 102
$1.32COP 4,617
-49.24%
Eggs
$1.36NPR 207
$2.27COP 7,927
-40.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.23NPR 795
$4.35COP 15.2K
20.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.94NPR 448
$5.88COP 20.5K
-50.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.49NPR 532
$8.61COP 30.0K
-59.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.22NPR 337
$2.25COP 7,844
-1.33%
Banana(1kg)
$0.83NPR 126
$1.07COP 3,733
-22.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50NPR 228
$1.52COP 5,322
-1.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.54NPR 81.7
$1.42COP 4,964
-61.97%
Potato(1kg)
$0.44NPR 66.7
$1.17COP 4,084
-62.39%
Onion(1kg)
$0.48NPR 73.5
$1.17COP 4,077
-58.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.53NPR 79.9
$0.89COP 3,096
-40.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35NPR 52.7
$0.90COP 3,146
-61.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.85NPR 434
$2.25COP 7,837
26.67%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$11.04COP 38.5K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34NPR 356
$1.14COP 3,977
105.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27NPR 497
$2.38COP 8,301
37.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17NPR 26.14
$0.84COP 2,916
-79.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.99NPR 1,976
$41.95COP 146.4K
-69.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.21NPR 336
$1.41COP 4,912
56.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.78NPR 118
$1.90COP 6,634
-58.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.50NPR 381
$7.75COP 27.0K
-67.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26NPR 192
$1.01COP 3,509
24.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8KNPR 4.8M
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
80.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.0KNPR 6.2M
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
54.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$26.30NPR 4,002
$83.7COP 292.1K
-68.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.69NPR 713
$9.45COP 33.0K
-50.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.16NPR 1,546
$24.11COP 84.1K
-57.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.14NPR 2,760
$25.31COP 88.3K
-28.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.13NPR 325
$19.14COP 66.8K
-88.87%
Cinema Ticket
$3.54NPR 538
$4.10COP 14.3K
-13.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$52.4NPR 7,970
$312COP 1.1M
-83.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,900NPR 289.1K
$5,993COP 20.9M
-68.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.44NPR 3,719
$58.0COP 202.6K
-57.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.78NPR 5,597
$32.56COP 113.6K
12.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$27.25NPR 4,147
$99.6COP 347.7K
-72.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.39NPR 5,081
$109COP 378.8K
-69.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$104NPR 15.8K
$482COP 1.7M
-78.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$57.9NPR 8,805
$379COP 1.3M
-84.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$203NPR 30.9K
$837COP 2.9M
-75.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$144NPR 21.9K
$723COP 2.5M
-80.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$390NPR 59.3K
$2,840COP 9.9M
-86.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$258NPR 39.3K
$1,223COP 4.3M
-78.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$164NPR 25.0K
$541COP 1.9M
-69.64%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $104 in Biratnagar and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 229% 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 161% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Biratnagar or Medellin?
On paper, Medellin earns 229% 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: $104 in Biratnagar versus $482 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 70% 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 $389 in Biratnagar versus $1,017 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 161% 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