🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $378 in Birgunj versus $1,031 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $620 in Birgunj versus $1,599 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $863 in Birgunj versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Birgunj costs roughly 63% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Birgunj72% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Birgunj
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.49NPR 228
$6.16COP 20.0K
-75.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.16NPR 2,943
$32.60COP 106.0K
-41.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.42NPR 986
$7.34COP 23.9K
-12.53%
Cappuccino
$1.89NPR 290
$1.72COP 5,592
9.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54NPR 82.4
$1.05COP 3,416
-48.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14NPR 21.25
$0.77COP 2,511
-81.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.52NPR 387
$1.69COP 5,480
49.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70NPR 568
$3.17COP 10.3K
16.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Birgunj
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.74NPR 114
$1.05COP 3,418
-29.52%
White Bread(500g)
$0.28NPR 43.07
$1.30COP 4,230
-78.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.67NPR 103
$1.40COP 4,538
-52.14%
Eggs
$1.79NPR 276
$2.16COP 7,037
-17.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.94NPR 1,220
$4.39COP 14.3K
80.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.62NPR 403
$5.88COP 19.1K
-55.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.04NPR 927
$8.64COP 28.1K
-30.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27NPR 349
$2.28COP 7,415
-0.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06NPR 163
$1.11COP 3,599
-4.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.18NPR 182
$1.53COP 4,976
-22.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.70NPR 108
$1.35COP 4,405
-48.15%
Potato(1kg)
$0.51NPR 78.6
$1.13COP 3,669
-54.87%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63NPR 96.3
$1.13COP 3,687
-44.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.15NPR 23.66
$0.85COP 2,749
-82.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.23NPR 35.44
$0.91COP 2,971
-74.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.84NPR 283
$2.34COP 7,619
-21.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.65NPR 1,329
$12.37COP 40.2K
-30.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.36NPR 362
$1.20COP 3,904
96.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37NPR 518
$2.49COP 8,094
35.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Birgunj
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.16NPR 24.83
$0.84COP 2,724
-80.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$40.57COP 131.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.12NPR 326
$1.42COP 4,617
49.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06NPR 163
$1.92COP 6,227
-44.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.60NPR 553
$7.66COP 24.9K
-53.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21NPR 186
$0.99COP 3,219
22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3KNPR 5.0M
$18.0KCOP 58.6M
79.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.6KNPR 6.2M
$26.6KCOP 86.6M
52.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Birgunj
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$33.18NPR 5,097
$80.8COP 262.7K
-58.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.67NPR 563
$9.95COP 32.3K
-63.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.85NPR 1,513
$24.18COP 78.6K
-59.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Birgunj
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.73NPR 2,262
$25.08COP 81.5K
-41.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.16NPR 331
$3.98COP 13.0K
-45.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Birgunj
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$90.8NPR 14.0K
$305COP 992.2K
-70.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,718NPR 571.1K
$6,059COP 19.7M
-38.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Birgunj
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.12NPR 3,859
$58.1COP 189.0K
-56.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.68NPR 4,252
$32.20COP 104.7K
-14.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$29.27NPR 4,496
$101COP 327.5K
-70.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$17.99NPR 2,764
$108COP 350.3K
-83.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Birgunj
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$38.60NPR 5,930
$477COP 1.5M
-91.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$43.96NPR 6,752
$376COP 1.2M
-88.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$141NPR 21.6K
$845COP 2.7M
-83.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$85.9NPR 13.2K
$730COP 2.4M
-88.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$645NPR 99.0K
$3,215COP 10.5M
-79.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$498NPR 76.4K
$1,372COP 4.5M
-63.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Birgunj
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.08
13.43
-10.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Birgunj: July 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $38.60 in Birgunj and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $19.00 in Birgunj vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $143 vs $193 per month, with Birgunj 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
Birgunj vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Birgunj or Medellin?
Birgunj wins on cost – living expenses run 173% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Birgunj the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Birgunj and in Medellin?
You'd need roughly $567 in Birgunj and $1,546 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Birgunj compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $38.60 in Birgunj versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Birgunj and in Medellin?
Childcare runs $90.8 in Birgunj versus $305 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Birgunj and in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Birgunj – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Birgunj or in Medellin?
At $378 in Birgunj versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Birgunj but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Birgunj the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Birgunj or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Birgunj delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $378 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Birgunj hard to pass up.
How safe is Birgunj compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Birgunj and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Birgunj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 173% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.