Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $417 in Dhaka versus $1,017 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $710 in Dhaka versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,003 in Dhaka versus $2,188 in Medellin.

Living in Dhaka costs roughly 59% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 69% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.40 ৳294

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-59.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.79 ৳1,567

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-61.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.04 ৳618

$7.23 COP 25.2K

-30.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.22 ৳517

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.98 ৳611

Cappuccino

$2.22 ৳272

$1.63 COP 5,687

36.20%

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

$0.32 ৳38.90

$1.09 COP 3,821

-70.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 ৳21.62

$0.73 COP 2,548

-75.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 ৳94.4

$1.05 COP 3,662

-26.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 ৳80.5

$1.29 COP 4,515

-48.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.66 ৳80.8

$1.32 COP 4,617

-50.00%

Eggs

$1.30 ৳160

$2.27 COP 7,927

-42.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.79 ৳833

$4.35 COP 15.2K

56.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.49 ৳428

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-40.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.41 ৳785

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-25.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 ৳346

$2.25 COP 7,844

25.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 ৳133

$1.07 COP 3,733

0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.54 ৳312

$1.52 COP 5,322

67.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.85 ৳104

$1.42 COP 4,964

-40.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.44 ৳53.9

$1.17 COP 4,084

-62.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 ৳95.0

$1.17 COP 4,077

-33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 ৳43.54

$0.89 COP 3,096

-59.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.28 ৳34.07

$0.90 COP 3,146

-68.89%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.28 ৳1,505

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.90 ৳477

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.95 ৳852

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.89 ৳354

$2.25 COP 7,837

28.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ৳47.83

$0.84 COP 2,916

-53.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.03 ৳3,067

$41.95 COP 146.4K

-40.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 ৳154

$1.41 COP 4,912

-10.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 ৳48.37

$1.90 COP 6,634

-79.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ৳384

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-59.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 ৳130

$1.01 COP 3,509

4.95%

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

$29.1K ৳3.6M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

65.73%

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

$28.3K ৳3.5M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

6.81%

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

$33.04 ৳4,049

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-60.52%

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

$4.77 ৳584

$9.45 COP 33.0K

-49.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.01 ৳1,594

$24.11 COP 84.1K

-46.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.65 ৳2,408

$25.31 COP 88.3K

-22.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.51 ৳1,777

$19.14 COP 66.8K

-24.19%

Cinema Ticket

$4.02 ৳493

$4.10 COP 14.3K

-1.95%

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

$46.77 ৳5,731

$312 COP 1.1M

-85.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,961 ৳240.3K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-67.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.47 ৳2,263

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-68.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.83 ৳2,920

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-26.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.72 ৳5,725

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-53.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.33 ৳4,452

$109 COP 378.8K

-66.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 ৳14.1K

$482 COP 1.7M

-76.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$64.2 ৳7,864

$379 COP 1.3M

-83.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$314 ৳38.5K

$837 COP 2.9M

-62.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$190 ৳23.3K

$723 COP 2.5M

-73.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,489 ৳182.4K

$2,840 COP 9.9M

-47.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$667 ৳81.8K

$1,223 COP 4.3M

-45.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$288 ৳35.2K

$541 COP 1.9M

-46.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.52

13.43

-21.67%

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

Last update for Dhaka: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $115 in Dhaka and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 88% 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: $13.00 in Dhaka vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $122 vs $190 per month, with Dhaka 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

Dhaka vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 144% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Medellin earns 88% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $115 in Dhaka versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $417 per month in Dhaka versus $1,017 in Medellin – a 144% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dhaka runs roughly 68% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $417 in Dhaka versus $1,017 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dhaka but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Dhaka the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Dhaka 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.

Expats usually find Dhaka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 144% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.