🙂A single person spends $516 per month in Ludhiana vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $913 per month in Ludhiana vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,311 per month in Ludhiana vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Ludhiana is about 49% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Ludhiana and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Ludhiana62% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ludhiana
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.99₹286
$5.99COP 21.4K
-50.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.70₹1,119
$32.86COP 117.2K
-64.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.06₹388
$7.09COP 25.3K
-42.74%
Cappuccino
$1.93₹185
$1.71COP 6,105
12.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43₹41.15
$1.10COP 3,918
-60.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24₹22.77
$0.78COP 2,776
-69.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.71₹164
$1.68COP 5,987
1.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40₹326
$3.07COP 10.9K
10.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ludhiana
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.77₹73.5
$1.09COP 3,899
-29.36%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57₹54.6
$1.26COP 4,500
-54.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93₹89.4
$1.38COP 4,914
-32.61%
Eggs
$0.96₹92.2
$2.19COP 7,813
-56.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.20₹402
$4.40COP 15.7K
-4.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.36₹321
$5.63COP 20.1K
-40.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$8.89COP 31.7K
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.23₹213
$2.34COP 8,334
-4.70%
Banana(1kg)
$0.70₹67.0
$1.06COP 3,771
-33.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92₹87.8
$1.50COP 5,365
-38.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.42₹40.55
$1.38COP 4,915
-69.57%
Potato(1kg)
$0.29₹27.40
$1.15COP 4,104
-74.78%
Onion(1kg)
$0.32₹30.92
$1.16COP 4,148
-72.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49₹46.63
$0.89COP 3,176
-44.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35₹33.18
$0.84COP 2,992
-58.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.70₹354
$2.28COP 8,131
62.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.53₹1,200
$10.64COP 37.9K
17.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04₹196
$1.20COP 4,276
70.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70₹354
$2.47COP 8,809
49.80%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$6.87₹658
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ludhiana
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.65₹62.6
$0.86COP 3,051
-24.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.75₹1,698
$41.40COP 147.6K
-57.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.70₹163
$1.47COP 5,255
15.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35₹33.94
$1.96COP 6,997
-82.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.34₹224
$7.74COP 27.6K
-69.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18₹113
$0.95COP 3,403
24.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.7K₹1.6M
$18.1KCOP 64.6M
-8.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2K₹2.0M
$26.5KCOP 94.4M
-20.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ludhiana
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$62.5₹5,976
$82.3COP 293.2K
-24.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.45₹330
$9.50COP 33.9K
-63.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.59₹631
$24.23COP 86.4K
-72.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ludhiana
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.83₹1,611
$25.89COP 92.3K
-34.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.58₹630
$19.00COP 67.7K
-65.37%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96₹379
$3.93COP 14.0K
0.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ludhiana
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$78.9₹7,545
$309COP 1.1M
-74.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,580₹151.2K
$5,965COP 21.3M
-73.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ludhiana
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.65₹2,359
$58.7COP 209.1K
-57.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.23₹3,468
$32.35COP 115.3K
11.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.1₹6,129
$103COP 365.7K
-37.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.08₹3,931
$108COP 386.5K
-62.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ludhiana
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$199₹19.1K
$476COP 1.7M
-58.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$119₹11.4K
$379COP 1.4M
-68.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$509₹48.7K
$838COP 3.0M
-39.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$499₹47.8K
$724COP 2.6M
-31.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$596₹57.1K
$2,791COP 9.9M
-78.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$497₹47.5K
$1,211COP 4.3M
-59.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ludhiana
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$427₹40.9K
$512COP 1.8M
-16.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.62
13.43
-35.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ludhiana: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $199 in Ludhiana versus $476 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 20% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Ludhiana versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $122 vs $188 – making Ludhiana the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Ludhiana vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ludhiana and Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $516 in Ludhiana, $1,013 in Medellin – roughly 96% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ludhiana compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $774 per month in Ludhiana and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ludhiana and Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ludhiana, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ludhiana and Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $78.9 per month in Ludhiana and $309 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 55% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ludhiana, where all-in costs run around $516, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Ludhiana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ludhiana and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $516 in Ludhiana to $1,013 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Ludhiana and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Ludhiana. 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.