🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $358 in Birgunj versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $576 in Birgunj versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $794 in Birgunj versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Birgunj costs roughly 79% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Birgunj is 74% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Birgunj
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.29NPR 198
$8.02COP 25.3K
-83.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.14NPR 3,089
$47.87COP 151.0K
-57.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.66NPR 1,176
$9.89COP 31.2K
-22.55%
Cappuccino
$1.59NPR 244
$3.13COP 9,873
-49.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56NPR 86.3
$1.91COP 6,019
-70.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14NPR 21.36
$1.51COP 4,763
-90.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.32NPR 355
$3.12COP 9,853
-25.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53NPR 541
$5.75COP 18.1K
-38.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Birgunj
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.68NPR 104
$1.44COP 4,558
-52.78%
White Bread(500g)
$0.24NPR 36.77
$2.49COP 7,843
-90.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.64NPR 97.7
$1.77COP 5,595
-63.84%
Eggs
$1.62NPR 248
$2.96COP 9,336
-45.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.33NPR 1,124
$10.07COP 31.8K
-27.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.30NPR 352
$10.12COP 31.9K
-77.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.83NPR 894
$14.30COP 45.1K
-59.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.11NPR 324
$4.14COP 13.0K
-49.03%
Banana(1kg)
$0.92NPR 142
$1.61COP 5,073
-42.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.32NPR 203
$2.25COP 7,083
-41.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.53NPR 81.5
$2.25COP 7,104
-76.44%
Potato(1kg)
$0.38NPR 58.7
$2.04COP 6,444
-81.37%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50NPR 76.5
$1.54COP 4,842
-67.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.15NPR 22.80
$1.17COP 3,691
-87.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.22NPR 33.08
$1.31COP 4,121
-83.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.62NPR 248
$3.90COP 12.3K
-58.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.84NPR 1,203
$14.01COP 44.2K
-44.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20NPR 338
$1.74COP 5,498
26.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14NPR 482
$2.87COP 9,053
9.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Birgunj
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.14NPR 20.74
$1.22COP 3,834
-88.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$80.5COP 253.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.93NPR 297
$1.31COP 4,129
47.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29NPR 198
$2.19COP 6,899
-41.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.21NPR 493
$8.71COP 27.5K
-63.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.06NPR 162
$1.37COP 4,306
-22.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2KNPR 4.5M
$27.8KCOP 87.8M
4.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.0KNPR 5.7M
$35.8KCOP 112.8M
3.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Birgunj
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$31.86NPR 4,887
$177COP 559.3K
-82.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.34NPR 512
$13.88COP 43.8K
-75.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.83NPR 1,201
$29.72COP 93.8K
-73.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Birgunj
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$13.08NPR 2,007
$44.88COP 141.6K
-70.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12COP 54.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.00NPR 307
$6.65COP 21.0K
-69.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Birgunj
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$66.9NPR 10.3K
$813COP 2.6M
-91.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,861NPR 745.7K
$9,187COP 29.0M
-47.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Birgunj
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.22NPR 4,023
$89.5COP 282.3K
-70.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.83NPR 4,423
$59.0COP 186.0K
-51.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$25.69NPR 3,941
$138COP 435.9K
-81.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$16.34NPR 2,507
$102COP 322.1K
-84.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Birgunj
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$34.79NPR 5,338
$1,062COP 3.3M
-96.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$39.61NPR 6,076
$663COP 2.1M
-94.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$124NPR 19.0K
$1,888COP 6.0M
-93.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$79.5NPR 12.2K
$1,027COP 3.2M
-92.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$647NPR 99.3K
$4,183COP 13.2M
-84.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$486NPR 74.6K
$1,675COP 5.3M
-70.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Birgunj
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$678COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.72
10.94
-11.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Birgunj: September 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $34.79 in Birgunj and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $20.00 in Birgunj vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $132 vs $305 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 370% 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 $536 in Birgunj and $2,521 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: $34.79 in Birgunj versus $1,062 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 $66.9 in Birgunj versus $813 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 $20.00 versus $48.00 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 $358 in Birgunj versus $1,681 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 $358 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 370% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.