Cost of Living Comparison Between Kolkata (Calcutta) and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Kolkata (Calcutta) and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $426 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $1,003 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $665 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $1,573 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $905 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $2,143 in Medellin.

Living in Kolkata (Calcutta) costs roughly 57% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kolkata (Calcutta) 68% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.23 ₹308

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-45.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.45 ₹1,092

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-65.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.96 ₹473

$7.43 COP 23.4K

-33.24%

Cappuccino

$1.88 ₹180

$1.65 COP 5,207

13.94%

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

$0.40 ₹38.60

$1.10 COP 3,468

-63.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 ₹13.79

$0.78 COP 2,458

-82.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.70 ₹162

$1.72 COP 5,412

-1.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ₹283

$3.18 COP 10.0K

-6.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.73 ₹69.5

$1.10 COP 3,474

-33.64%

White Bread (500g)

$0.43 ₹40.91

$1.26 COP 3,962

-65.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.71 ₹67.8

$1.38 COP 4,349

-48.55%

Eggs

$0.97 ₹92.5

$2.18 COP 6,858

-55.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.49 ₹524

$4.49 COP 14.1K

22.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.91 ₹277

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-49.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

Apples (1kg)

$2.50 ₹239

$2.32 COP 7,308

7.76%

Banana (1kg)

$0.80 ₹76.1

$1.06 COP 3,352

-24.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 ₹120

$1.52 COP 4,774

-17.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.61 ₹58.6

$1.36 COP 4,270

-55.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 ₹35.57

$1.13 COP 3,552

-67.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 ₹57.1

$1.17 COP 3,689

-48.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.41 ₹38.97

$0.90 COP 2,838

-54.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₹29.22

$0.90 COP 2,823

-65.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.85 ₹367

$2.23 COP 7,034

72.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ₹874

$12.12 COP 38.2K

-24.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₹160

$1.19 COP 3,743

41.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 ₹232

$2.48 COP 7,815

-2.02%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$7.52 ₹717

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₹20.93

$0.85 COP 2,687

-74.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.82 ₹269

$41.62 COP 131.0K

-93.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.55 ₹52.8

$1.42 COP 4,459

-61.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 ₹30.99

$1.95 COP 6,141

-83.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.01 ₹192

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-74.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₹118

$0.99 COP 3,118

25.25%

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

$15.6K ₹1.5M

$17.6K COP 55.4M

-11.26%

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

$22.4K ₹2.1M

$26.8K COP 84.4M

-16.43%

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

$42.68 ₹4,070

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-48.58%

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

$4.02 ₹383

$9.70 COP 30.5K

-58.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.21 ₹688

$23.52 COP 74.1K

-69.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.02 ₹1,528

$25.26 COP 79.5K

-36.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.50 ₹1,097

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-39.79%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 ₹380

$3.95 COP 12.4K

0.76%

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

$43.92 ₹4,188

$316 COP 994.2K

-86.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,619 ₹154.4K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-72.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.83 ₹2,654

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-53.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.44 ₹2,903

$31.82 COP 100.2K

-4.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.24 ₹4,696

$102 COP 320.1K

-51.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.37 ₹2,992

$107 COP 338.3K

-70.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$159 ₹15.2K

$475 COP 1.5M

-66.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.9 ₹8,481

$374 COP 1.2M

-76.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 ₹36.9K

$849 COP 2.7M

-54.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$192 ₹18.3K

$719 COP 2.3M

-73.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,195 ₹113.9K

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-63.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$578 ₹55.1K

$1,441 COP 4.5M

-59.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 ₹36.3K

$624 COP 2.0M

-38.97%

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 Kolkata (Calcutta): July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $159 in Kolkata (Calcutta) and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 64% 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: $11.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $114 vs $193 per month, with Kolkata (Calcutta) 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

Kolkata (Calcutta) vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kolkata (Calcutta) wins on cost – living expenses run 135% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kolkata (Calcutta) the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 64% lower in Medellin. 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: $159 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $475 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $426 per month in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $1,003 in Medellin – a 135% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kolkata (Calcutta) runs roughly 1376% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $426 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kolkata (Calcutta) but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kolkata (Calcutta) the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Kolkata (Calcutta) delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $426 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kolkata (Calcutta) hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Kolkata (Calcutta) gentler on the wallet – expenses run 135% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.