Cost of Living Comparison Between Bismarck, ND and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Bismarck, ND and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,465 in Bismarck, ND versus $1,003 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,420 in Bismarck, ND versus $1,573 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,375 in Bismarck, ND versus $2,143 in Medellin.

Living in Bismarck, ND is roughly 146% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bismarck, ND is 85% above, Medellin is 25% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$42.98 $42.98

$5.91 COP 18.9K

627.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.9 $73.9

$32.96 COP 105.2K

124.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.99 $14.99

$7.43 COP 23.7K

101.75%

Cappuccino

$5.20 $5.20

$1.65 COP 5,276

215.15%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.10 COP 3,514

105.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$0.78 COP 2,491

123.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$1.72 COP 5,484

239.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.10 $7.10

$3.18 COP 10.1K

123.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.10 COP 3,521

0.91%

White Bread (500g)

$2.61 $2.61

$1.26 COP 4,015

107.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

$1.38 COP 4,407

208.70%

Eggs

$4.27 $4.27

$2.18 COP 6,950

95.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.39 $12.39

$4.49 COP 14.3K

175.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$5.79 COP 18.5K

146.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.56 $15.56

$8.97 COP 28.6K

73.47%

Apples (1kg)

$4.89 $4.89

$2.32 COP 7,405

110.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.06 COP 3,397

55.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$1.52 COP 4,838

172.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$1.36 COP 4,327

252.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.13 COP 3,599

147.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.17 COP 3,738

141.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.12 $2.12

$0.90 COP 2,876

135.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$0.90 COP 2,861

136.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.28 $8.28

$2.23 COP 7,128

271.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.69 $19.69

$12.12 COP 38.7K

62.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 $1.90

$1.19 COP 3,793

59.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 $3.32

$2.48 COP 7,920

33.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.85 COP 2,723

137.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 $3.58

$1.42 COP 4,518

152.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.95 COP 6,223

-18.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.73 $28.73

$7.89 COP 25.2K

264.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.99 COP 3,160

-16.16%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.2K $29.2K

$17.6K COP 56.2M

65.68%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.8K COP 85.5M

-5.11%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$189 $189

$83.0 COP 264.9K

127.64%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$71.3 $71.3

$9.70 COP 30.9K

635.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$91.6 $91.6

$23.52 COP 75.0K

289.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.56 $42.56

$25.26 COP 80.6K

68.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

Cinema Ticket

$13.43 $13.43

$3.95 COP 12.6K

240.00%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,297 $1,297

$316 COP 1.0M

310.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.0K $23.0K

$5,975 COP 19.1M

285.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.9 $51.9

$60.0 COP 191.4K

-13.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.25 $39.25

$31.82 COP 101.5K

23.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.9 $67.9

$102 COP 324.4K

-33.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$107 COP 342.8K

5.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,193 $1,193

$475 COP 1.5M

151.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$994 $994

$374 COP 1.2M

165.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,602 $1,602

$849 COP 2.7M

88.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,157 $1,157

$719 COP 2.3M

60.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,018 $2,018

$3,265 COP 10.4M

-38.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,082 $2,082

$1,441 COP 4.6M

44.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,530 $4,530

$624 COP 2.0M

625.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.13

13.43

-46.91%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bismarck, ND: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,193 in Bismarck, ND and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bismarck, ND pays 625% 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: $74.0 in Bismarck, ND vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $193 per month, with Medellin 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

Bismarck, ND vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bismarck, ND and Medellin differ by about 146% in total monthly costs ($2,465 vs $1,003 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 625% higher in Bismarck, ND, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,193 in Bismarck, ND versus $475 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,297 in Bismarck, ND versus $316 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $74.0 in Bismarck, ND. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,003 in Medellin versus $2,465 in Bismarck, ND, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Bismarck, ND. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Bismarck, ND 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.

Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 146% less than in Bismarck, ND. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.