🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $316 in Biratnagar versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $524 in Biratnagar versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $733 in Biratnagar versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Biratnagar costs roughly 81% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Biratnagar is 77% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.55NPR 238
$8.02COP 25.0K
-80.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.10NPR 2,164
$47.87COP 149.4K
-70.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.74NPR 1,187
$9.89COP 30.8K
-21.74%
Cappuccino
$1.16NPR 178
$3.13COP 9,767
-62.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34NPR 52.5
$1.91COP 5,954
-82.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.51COP 4,712
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.51NPR 231
$3.12COP 9,747
-51.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19NPR 336
$5.75COP 17.9K
-61.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.58NPR 88.4
$1.44COP 4,509
-59.72%
White Bread(500g)
$0.39NPR 59.3
$2.49COP 7,759
-84.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.65NPR 99.5
$1.77COP 5,535
-63.28%
Eggs
$1.25NPR 192
$2.96COP 9,235
-57.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.66NPR 716
$10.07COP 31.4K
-53.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.70NPR 415
$10.12COP 31.6K
-73.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.08NPR 472
$14.30COP 44.6K
-78.46%
Apples(1kg)
$1.95NPR 299
$4.14COP 12.9K
-52.90%
Banana(1kg)
$0.77NPR 119
$1.61COP 5,019
-52.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.28NPR 197
$2.25COP 7,007
-43.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.48NPR 74.2
$2.25COP 7,028
-78.67%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36NPR 55.5
$2.04COP 6,375
-82.35%
Onion(1kg)
$0.47NPR 71.7
$1.54COP 4,790
-69.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.25NPR 38.24
$1.17COP 3,651
-78.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28NPR 42.84
$1.31COP 4,077
-78.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.55NPR 391
$3.90COP 12.2K
-34.62%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$14.01COP 43.7K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66NPR 255
$1.74COP 5,439
-4.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25NPR 345
$2.87COP 8,956
-21.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17NPR 25.85
$1.22COP 3,792
-86.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.64NPR 1,786
$80.5COP 251.1K
-85.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.92NPR 294
$1.31COP 4,084
46.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.19COP 6,825
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.23NPR 342
$8.71COP 27.2K
-74.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17NPR 180
$1.37COP 4,260
-14.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KNPR 3.2M
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
-25.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$177COP 553.2K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.11NPR 631
$13.88COP 43.3K
-70.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.92NPR 1,369
$29.72COP 92.8K
-69.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.13NPR 4,316
$44.88COP 140.1K
-37.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.01NPR 308
$17.12COP 53.4K
-88.26%
Cinema Ticket
$3.09NPR 474
$6.65COP 20.7K
-53.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$46.99NPR 7,211
$813COP 2.5M
-94.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,760NPR 270.1K
$9,187COP 28.7M
-80.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.95NPR 3,060
$89.5COP 279.3K
-77.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.38NPR 5,122
$59.0COP 184.0K
-43.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$24.50NPR 3,759
$138COP 431.2K
-82.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.88NPR 4,432
$102COP 318.7K
-71.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$45.11NPR 6,921
$1,062COP 3.3M
-95.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$52.8NPR 8,104
$663COP 2.1M
-92.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$131NPR 20.0K
$1,888COP 5.9M
-93.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$98.3NPR 15.1K
$1,027COP 3.2M
-90.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$398NPR 61.0K
$4,183COP 13.1M
-90.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$263NPR 40.4K
$1,675COP 5.2M
-84.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Biratnagar
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167NPR 25.6K
$678COP 2.1M
-75.37%
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: September 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $45.11 in Biratnagar and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 306% 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: $14.00 in Biratnagar vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $305 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 432% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Biratnagar or Medellin?
On paper, salaries run 306% 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: $45.11 in Biratnagar versus $1,062 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 220% 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 $14.00 versus $48.00 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 $316 in Biratnagar versus $1,681 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 432% 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