Cost of Living Comparison Between Dharan and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Dharan and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $58.7 per month in Dharan vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $91.0 per month in Dharan vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $124 per month in Dharan vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Dharan is about 96% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Dharan sits 96% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 NPR 310

$8.04 COP 25.0K

-74.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.29 COP 150.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 COP 29.3K

Cappuccino

$1.62 NPR 248

$2.94 COP 9,127

-44.90%

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

$0.40 NPR 61.4

$1.86 COP 5,790

-78.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.12 NPR 19.07

$1.46 COP 4,522

-91.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 COP 9,977

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.71 COP 17.7K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,471

White Bread (500g)

$0.45 NPR 68.1

$2.40 COP 7,460

-81.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,278

Eggs

$2.89 COP 8,982

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.06 COP 31.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.59 NPR 397

$9.97 COP 31.0K

-74.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.20 COP 44.1K

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 COP 12.4K

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 COP 4,925

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 COP 6,688

Tomato (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,146

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 COP 6,228

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,691

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 COP 3,737

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 COP 3,984

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 COP 11.9K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 COP 5,307

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 COP 8,521

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.25 COP 3,871

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 COP 242.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,055

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.17 COP 6,745

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.29 COP 25.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 NPR 166

$1.36 COP 4,212

-19.85%

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

$27.5K COP 85.4M

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

$36.5K COP 113.5M

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

$169 COP 524.3K

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

$13.57 COP 42.2K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.32 COP 88.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.71 COP 142.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 COP 53.5K

Cinema Ticket

$2.01 NPR 307

$6.65 COP 20.7K

-69.77%

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

$803 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,190 COP 28.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.4 COP 271.4K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.4 COP 184.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 COP 431.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 317.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,071 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 COP 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,925 COP 6.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 COP 3.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 COP 12.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$655 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Dharan: September 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

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

Dharan vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 2694% more than Dharan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $88.1 per month in Dharan and $2,462 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $58.7 in Dharan and $1,641 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 1623% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dharan, where all-in costs run around $58.7, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Dharan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dharan costs $58.7 versus $1,641 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Dharan. 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.