Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Begusarai

For one person, living is cheaper in Begusarai: $266 a month against $1,614 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $16,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Begusarai
🇮🇳 India
$266
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Begusarai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Begusarai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,614 in Medellin versus $266 in Begusarai.

  • Medellin $1,614
  • Begusarai $266

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,402 in Medellin versus $475 in Begusarai.

  • Medellin $2,402
  • Begusarai $475

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,190 in Medellin versus $684 in Begusarai.

  • Medellin $3,190
  • Begusarai $684

Living in Medellin is roughly 506% more expensive than in Begusarai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 20% above, Begusarai is 80% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Begusarai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.93 COP 25.1K
$2.13 ₹202
272.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.13 COP 146.2K
$7.50 ₹713
515.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$3.11 ₹295
205.47%
Cappuccino
$3.11 COP 9,860
$1.54 ₹147
101.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 COP 5,796
$0.32 ₹30.55
471.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,357
$0.09 ₹8.25
1433.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 COP 9,666
$1.97 ₹187
54.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50 COP 17.4K
$5.96 ₹566
-7.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Begusarai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 COP 4,597
$0.50 ₹47.26
190.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 COP 7,491
$0.40 ₹37.97
490.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 COP 5,325
$0.57 ₹53.7
194.74%
Eggs
$2.86 COP 9,072
$0.88 ₹83.2
225.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.3K
$2.04 ₹193
399.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 COP 30.2K
$2.28 ₹216
317.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 COP 44.5K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 COP 12.9K
$1.42 ₹135
186.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,739
$0.57 ₹54.0
163.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 COP 6,887
$0.91 ₹86.4
138.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 COP 7,305
$0.44 ₹41.45
425.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 COP 6,110
$0.22 ₹20.92
777.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 COP 5,193
$0.32 ₹30.13
412.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 COP 3,568
$0.22 ₹20.92
413.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,952
$0.28 ₹26.83
346.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 COP 12.6K
$3.81 ₹362
4.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 COP 42.3K
$6.33 ₹602
110.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 COP 5,380
$1.55 ₹147
9.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 7,520
$2.12 ₹201
11.79%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$6.39 ₹607
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Begusarai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 COP 3,825
$0.26 ₹24.27
365.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.5 COP 242.4K
$7.21 ₹685
960.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 COP 4,177
$1.35 ₹128
-2.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 COP 6,770
$0.15 ₹13.96
1326.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.47 COP 26.8K
$1.55 ₹148
446.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,112
$1.11 ₹106
17.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K COP 88.7M
$12.5K ₹1.2M
124.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 112.2M
$10.5K ₹997.0K
237.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Begusarai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 COP 545.3K
$11.33 ₹1,076
1418.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.4K
$2.35 ₹223
468.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.73 COP 91.0K
$6.34 ₹602
353.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Begusarai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.24 COP 143.4K
$4.20 ₹399
977.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04 COP 54.0K
$6.61 ₹627
157.79%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 COP 19.9K
$1.08 ₹102
481.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Begusarai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$770 COP 2.4M
$55.2 ₹5,244
1294.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,011 COP 28.6M
$617 ₹58.6K
1361.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Begusarai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 COP 273.8K
$24.11 ₹2,290
258.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 COP 181.0K
$26.48 ₹2,514
115.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 432.6K
$23.91 ₹2,271
471.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 310.2K
$27.58 ₹2,619
255.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Begusarai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 COP 3.3M
$52.0 ₹4,942
1927.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 COP 2.0M
$36.78 ₹3,492
1574.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 COP 6.0M
$261 ₹24.8K
625.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 COP 3.2M
$182 ₹17.2K
463.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,059 COP 12.9M
$848 ₹80.5K
378.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,678 COP 5.3M
$444 ₹42.1K
278.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Begusarai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 COP 2.1M
$1,062 ₹100.8K
-38.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
9.46
15.64%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Last update for Begusarai: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$616
Begusarai
$37 94% $579
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$295
Begusarai
$79 73.3% $216
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$214
Begusarai
$20 90.7% $194
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$170
Begusarai
$46 73% $124
Eating Out
Medellin
$168
Begusarai
$68 59.5% $100
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Begusarai
$10 89% $83
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Begusarai
$6.4 89% $51

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,055 in Medellin and $52.0 in Begusarai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Begusarai pays 63% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $46.00 in Medellin vs $8.00 in Begusarai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 vs $79.0 per month, with Begusarai cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇮🇳 Begusarai
🕒 Local time
10:33 10:33 AM
21:03 9:03 PM
10 h 30 min ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
250,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 16, 2026: 1 USD = 3,169 COP (10,000 COP = 3.16 USD). 1 EUR = 3,554 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 16, 2026: 1 USD = 94.96 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 107 INR (1,000 INR = 9.39 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Begusarai 15,980 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Begusarai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Medellin vs Begusarai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Begusarai cheaper than Medellin?
Begusarai is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 506% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Begusarai?
On paper, salaries run 63% lower in Begusarai. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Begusarai?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,055 in Medellin versus $52.0 in Begusarai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Begusarai?
Dining out is cheaper in Begusarai – a meal for two runs $8.00 versus $46.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Begusarai?
All in, you'll spend $1,614 per month in Medellin versus $266 in Begusarai – a 506% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Begusarai?
At $266 in Begusarai versus $1,614 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Begusarai but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Begusarai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Begusarai more family-friendly?
For families, Begusarai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Begusarai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 506% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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