🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $406 in Haldia versus $1,034 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $658 in Haldia versus $1,577 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $910 in Haldia versus $2,120 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Haldia costs roughly 61% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Haldia70% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Haldia
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.11₹294
$5.92COP 21.5K
-47.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.60₹1,098
$32.75COP 119.1K
-64.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.98₹471
$7.20COP 26.2K
-30.83%
Cappuccino
$1.80₹170
$1.70COP 6,186
5.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41₹38.35
$1.10COP 3,996
-62.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13₹12.44
$0.72COP 2,625
-81.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.73₹164
$1.67COP 6,067
3.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35₹222
$3.10COP 11.3K
-24.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Haldia
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.67₹63.8
$1.06COP 3,837
-36.79%
White Bread(500g)
$0.39₹37.21
$1.25COP 4,531
-68.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.62₹58.8
$1.39COP 5,060
-55.40%
Eggs
$1.02₹96.7
$2.26COP 8,229
-54.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.52₹428
$4.33COP 15.8K
4.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.88₹272
$5.84COP 21.2K
-50.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$8.83COP 32.1K
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.42₹229
$2.24COP 8,159
8.04%
Banana(1kg)
$0.79₹74.8
$1.08COP 3,911
-26.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.28₹121
$1.53COP 5,563
-16.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.61₹58.1
$1.37COP 4,987
-55.47%
Potato(1kg)
$0.41₹38.57
$1.13COP 4,109
-63.72%
Onion(1kg)
$0.60₹56.8
$1.12COP 4,067
-46.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.45₹42.23
$0.85COP 3,080
-47.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34₹31.70
$0.91COP 3,305
-62.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00₹378
$2.33COP 8,477
71.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.57₹811
$11.13COP 40.5K
-23.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₹150
$1.19COP 4,342
33.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41₹228
$2.37COP 8,617
1.69%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$7.29₹689
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Haldia
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30₹28.66
$0.79COP 2,859
-62.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.79₹831
$41.13COP 149.6K
-78.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.56₹53.2
$1.44COP 5,223
-61.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28₹26.49
$1.91COP 6,952
-85.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.08₹197
$8.02COP 29.2K
-74.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19₹113
$0.94COP 3,410
26.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.8K₹1.1M
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
-34.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K₹2.1M
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
-18.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Haldia
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.93₹3,967
$84.0COP 305.4K
-50.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.97₹375
$9.60COP 34.9K
-58.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.26₹687
$24.16COP 87.9K
-69.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Haldia
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.02₹1,516
$25.88COP 94.1K
-38.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.97₹660
$19.04COP 69.3K
-63.39%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96₹374
$3.92COP 14.2K
1.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Haldia
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$43.67₹4,132
$306COP 1.1M
-85.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,590₹150.5K
$5,919COP 21.5M
-73.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Haldia
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.01₹2,650
$57.9COP 210.6K
-51.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.50₹2,886
$31.82COP 115.7K
-4.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$47.50₹4,495
$99.9COP 363.3K
-52.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$31.96₹3,024
$107COP 389.7K
-70.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Haldia
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$123₹11.7K
$487COP 1.8M
-74.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$75.7₹7,164
$368COP 1.3M
-79.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$273₹25.8K
$826COP 3.0M
-66.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$179₹16.9K
$716COP 2.6M
-75.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,037₹98.1K
$2,925COP 10.6M
-64.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$492₹46.5K
$1,407COP 5.1M
-65.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Haldia
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$438₹41.4K
$546COP 2.0M
-19.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.9
13.43
-26.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Haldia: April 25, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $123 in Haldia and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 25% 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: $12.00 in Haldia vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $108 vs $190 per month, with Haldia 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
Haldia vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Haldia and Medellin?
Haldia and Medellin differ by about 155% in total monthly costs ($406 vs $1,034 including rent). Haldia is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Medellin earns 25% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Haldia and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $123 in Haldia versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Haldia or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $406 per month in Haldia versus $1,034 in Medellin – a 155% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Haldia and Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Haldia runs roughly 368% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $406 in Haldia versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Haldia but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Haldia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Haldia and Medellin?
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.
Is Haldia or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Haldia 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.
Where should expats move: Haldia or Medellin?
Expats usually find Haldia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 155% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.