🙂A single person spends $505 per month in Birjand vs $1,687 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $798 per month in Birjand vs $2,535 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,092 per month in Birjand vs $3,383 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Birjand is about 70% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Birjand sits 63% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Birjand
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.77$3.77
$7.89COP 24.2K
-52.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.67$15.67
$44.53COP 136.5K
-64.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.62$3.62
$9.29COP 28.5K
-61.03%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.04$1.04
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02$1.02
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.07$1.07
$2.90COP 8,874
-63.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59$0.59
$1.81COP 5,541
-67.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08$1.08
$1.55COP 4,741
-30.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.25COP 9,962
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.88COP 18.0K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Birjand
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.67$0.67
$1.38COP 4,230
-51.45%
White Bread(500g)
$0.47$0.47
$2.45COP 7,517
-80.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.15$2.15
$1.51COP 4,617
42.38%
Eggs
$1.08$1.08
$2.78COP 8,516
-61.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.09$3.09
$9.05COP 27.7K
-65.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.19$3.19
$10.65COP 32.6K
-70.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.53$8.53
$14.63COP 44.8K
-41.70%
Apples(1kg)
$0.85$0.85
$3.97COP 12.2K
-78.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46$1.46
$1.38COP 4,219
5.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.76$0.76
$2.30COP 7,056
-66.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.64$0.64
$2.02COP 6,185
-68.32%
Potato(1kg)
$0.58$0.58
$2.09COP 6,390
-72.25%
Onion(1kg)
$0.54$0.54
$1.63COP 4,996
-66.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52$0.52
$1.08COP 3,313
-51.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.21$0.21
$1.25COP 3,843
-83.20%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.56$0.56
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.55$0.55
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36$1.36
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.55$2.55
$4.03COP 12.4K
-36.72%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$13.47COP 41.3K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.60COP 4,904
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.00COP 9,189
-
🚌 Getting Around
Birjand
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22$0.22
$1.18COP 3,611
-81.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.45$5.45
$79.9COP 244.9K
-93.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.41$0.41
$1.61COP 4,920
-74.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34$0.34
$2.13COP 6,533
-84.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.25$2.25
$8.52COP 26.1K
-73.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.10$0.10
$1.35COP 4,142
-92.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$56.6K$56.6K
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
99.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.5K$43.5K
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
21.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Birjand
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$12.95$12.95
$151COP 463.8K
-91.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.75$1.75
$13.10COP 40.1K
-86.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$4.13$4.13
$32.30COP 99.0K
-87.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Birjand
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.55$18.55
$46.33COP 141.9K
-59.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.08$14.08
$17.26COP 52.9K
-18.42%
Cinema Ticket
$2.03$2.03
$6.43COP 19.7K
-68.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Birjand
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$104$104
$835COP 2.6M
-87.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$743$743
$8,887COP 27.2M
-91.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Birjand
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.20$23.20
$89.3COP 273.7K
-74.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.51$30.51
$55.3COP 169.5K
-44.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.8$91.8
$137COP 418.5K
-32.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.2$69.2
$109COP 335.1K
-36.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Birjand
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$268$268
$952COP 2.9M
-71.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$191$191
$668COP 2.0M
-71.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$496$496
$2,020COP 6.2M
-75.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$318$318
$1,148COP 3.5M
-72.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,289$1,289
$3,696COP 11.3M
-65.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$573$573
$1,586COP 4.9M
-63.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Birjand
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$625COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
23
10.43
120.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Birjand: August 18, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $268 in Birjand versus $952 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Birjand versus $45.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $102 vs $297 – making Birjand the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Birjand vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Birjand and in Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $505 in Birjand, $1,687 in Medellin – roughly 234% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Birjand compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $758 per month in Birjand and $2,530 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Birjand and Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Birjand, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 192% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Birjand and $45.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Birjand, where all-in costs run around $505, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Birjand it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Birjand and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $505 in Birjand to $1,687 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Birjand or Medellin safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Birjand and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Birjand. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.