🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $419 in Haldia versus $1,017 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $660 in Haldia versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $901 in Haldia versus $2,188 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Haldia costs roughly 59% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Haldia69% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Haldia
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.21₹306
$5.95COP 20.8K
-46.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.72₹1,115
$33.33COP 116.3K
-64.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.80₹456
$7.23COP 25.2K
-33.61%
Cappuccino
$1.78₹169
$1.63COP 5,687
9.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40₹38.40
$1.09COP 3,821
-63.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13₹12.19
$0.73COP 2,548
-82.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.71₹163
$1.74COP 6,065
-1.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34₹223
$3.23COP 11.3K
-27.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Haldia
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.63₹60.2
$1.05COP 3,662
-40.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.40₹37.88
$1.29COP 4,515
-68.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.68₹64.3
$1.32COP 4,617
-48.48%
Eggs
$1.02₹97.3
$2.27COP 7,927
-55.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.55₹432
$4.35COP 15.2K
4.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.97₹283
$5.88COP 20.5K
-49.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$8.61COP 30.0K
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.44₹232
$2.25COP 7,844
8.44%
Banana(1kg)
$0.85₹80.6
$1.07COP 3,733
-20.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.27₹121
$1.52COP 5,322
-16.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.66₹62.3
$1.42COP 4,964
-53.52%
Potato(1kg)
$0.40₹38.28
$1.17COP 4,084
-65.81%
Onion(1kg)
$0.56₹53.0
$1.17COP 4,077
-52.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.42₹39.94
$0.89COP 3,096
-52.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33₹31.69
$0.90COP 3,146
-63.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.86₹367
$2.25COP 7,837
71.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.56₹814
$11.04COP 38.5K
-22.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64₹156
$1.14COP 3,977
43.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49₹237
$2.38COP 8,301
4.62%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$7.50₹713
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Haldia
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28₹26.59
$0.84COP 2,916
-66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.57₹815
$41.95COP 146.4K
-79.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.60₹56.9
$1.41COP 4,912
-57.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28₹26.47
$1.90COP 6,634
-85.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.06₹196
$7.75COP 27.0K
-73.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23₹117
$1.01COP 3,509
21.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.8K₹1.1M
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
-32.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K₹2.1M
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-18.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Haldia
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$42.34₹4,027
$83.7COP 292.1K
-49.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.96₹377
$9.45COP 33.0K
-58.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.29₹693
$24.11COP 84.1K
-69.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Haldia
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.72₹1,495
$25.31COP 88.3K
-37.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.85₹652
$19.14COP 66.8K
-64.21%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10₹390
$4.10COP 14.3K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Haldia
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$43.89₹4,174
$312COP 1.1M
-85.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,606₹152.8K
$5,993COP 20.9M
-73.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Haldia
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.65₹2,725
$58.0COP 202.6K
-50.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.15₹2,868
$32.56COP 113.6K
-7.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$47.33₹4,501
$99.6COP 347.7K
-52.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$31.63₹3,008
$109COP 378.8K
-70.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Haldia
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$122₹11.6K
$482COP 1.7M
-74.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$74.8₹7,118
$379COP 1.3M
-80.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$271₹25.8K
$837COP 2.9M
-67.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$179₹17.0K
$723COP 2.5M
-75.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,052₹100.0K
$2,840COP 9.9M
-62.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$441₹42.0K
$1,223COP 4.3M
-63.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Haldia
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$430₹40.9K
$541COP 1.9M
-20.43%
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Haldia and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 26% 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 $110 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 143% in total monthly costs ($419 vs $1,017 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 26% 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: $122 in Haldia versus $482 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 $419 per month in Haldia versus $1,017 in Medellin – a 143% 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 389% 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 $419 in Haldia versus $1,017 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 143% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.