😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $362 in Belgaum.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $606 in Belgaum.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $851 in Belgaum.
😐Living in Medellin is roughly 180% more expensive than Belgaum, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Belgaum73% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Belgaum
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COP 21.4K
$2.35₹224
154.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COP 117.2K
$11.67₹1,117
181.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COP 25.3K
$3.22₹308
120.19%
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 6,105
$2.07₹199
-17.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,918
$0.40₹38.39
175.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,776
$0.13₹12.83
500.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COP 5,987
$1.08₹103
55.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COP 10.9K
$3.00₹287
2.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Belgaum
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COP 3,899
$0.69₹65.7
57.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 4,500
$0.32₹30.68
293.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,914
$0.58₹55.6
137.93%
Eggs
$2.19COP 7,813
$0.83₹79.9
163.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COP 15.7K
$4.76₹455
-7.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COP 20.1K
$2.92₹280
92.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COP 31.7K
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 8,334
$1.72₹164
36.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,771
$1.07₹103
-0.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COP 5,365
$1.84₹176
-18.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,915
$0.37₹34.96
272.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COP 4,104
$0.43₹40.90
167.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,148
$0.45₹43.13
157.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COP 3,176
$0.49₹47.10
81.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COP 2,992
$0.36₹34.92
133.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COP 8,131
$4.78₹457
-52.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COP 37.9K
$5.32₹509
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,276
$1.41₹135
-14.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COP 8,809
$2.21₹212
11.76%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.01₹480
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Belgaum
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COP 3,051
$0.19₹18.62
352.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COP 147.6K
$8.87₹848
366.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COP 5,255
$1.17₹112
25.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COP 6,997
$0.58₹55.6
237.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COP 27.6K
$1.41₹135
448.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COP 3,403
$1.24₹118
-23.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOP 64.6M
$13.9K₹1.3M
30.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 94.4M
$20.6K₹2.0M
28.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Belgaum
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COP 293.2K
$50.6₹4,845
62.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COP 33.9K
$3.38₹324
181.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COP 86.4K
$7.08₹678
242.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Belgaum
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COP 92.3K
$6.76₹647
282.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COP 67.7K
$7.30₹698
160.27%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COP 14.0K
$1.84₹176
113.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Belgaum
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COP 1.1M
$23.33₹2,232
1226.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COP 21.3M
$1,177₹112.6K
406.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Belgaum
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COP 209.1K
$19.76₹1,891
196.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COP 115.3K
$25.66₹2,456
26.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COP 365.7K
$32.40₹3,100
216.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 386.5K
$23.66₹2,264
358.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Belgaum
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COP 1.7M
$135₹13.0K
251.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COP 1.4M
$70.3₹6,723
439.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COP 3.0M
$285₹27.3K
194.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COP 2.6M
$212₹20.3K
241.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COP 9.9M
$588₹56.3K
374.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COP 4.3M
$394₹37.7K
207.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Belgaum
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COP 1.8M
$462₹44.2K
10.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
10.75
24.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Belgaum: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $135 in Belgaum. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 11% 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $12.00 in Belgaum for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $99.0 per month, with Belgaum 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
Medellin vs Belgaum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and Belgaum?
Medellin and Belgaum differ by about 180% in total monthly costs ($1,013 vs $362 including rent). Belgaum is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Medellin or Belgaum?
Medellin pays 11% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and Belgaum?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $135 in Belgaum. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Belgaum – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Belgaum?
All in, you'll spend $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $362 in Belgaum – a 180% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $362 in Belgaum versus $1,013 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Belgaum but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Belgaum the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Belgaum?
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 Medellin or Belgaum safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Belgaum 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: Medellin or Belgaum?
Expats usually find Belgaum gentler on the wallet – expenses run 180% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.