πA single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $352 in Bhairab Bazar, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $592 in Bhairab Bazar, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $831 in Bhairab Bazar, rent included.
πMedellin costs about 187% more than Bhairab Bazar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth Medellin and Bhairab Bazar are more affordable than the global median β Medellin24% lower, Bhairab Bazar74% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Bhairab Bazar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$1.67ΰ§³205
258.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.2K
$14.57ΰ§³1,788
125.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$7.41ΰ§³909
-4.32%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$5.89ΰ§³722
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.16ΰ§³510
-
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,105
$1.68ΰ§³206
1.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,918
$0.39ΰ§³47.40
182.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,776
$0.14ΰ§³16.72
457.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,987
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 10.9K
-
-
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bhairab Bazar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,899
$0.74ΰ§³91.4
47.30%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,500
$0.62ΰ§³75.9
103.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,914
$0.64ΰ§³79.0
115.62%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,813
$1.21ΰ§³148
80.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$9.35ΰ§³1,148
-52.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
$1.60ΰ§³197
251.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.7K
$7.21ΰ§³885
23.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,334
$2.20ΰ§³270
6.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,771
$0.99ΰ§³122
7.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,365
$2.14ΰ§³262
-29.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,915
$0.79ΰ§³97.3
74.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,104
$0.44ΰ§³54.1
161.36%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,148
$0.88ΰ§³108
31.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,176
$0.40ΰ§³49.11
122.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,992
$0.25ΰ§³30.42
236.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$8.61ΰ§³1,056
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.84ΰ§³104
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.45ΰ§³178
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,131
$2.91ΰ§³358
-21.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 37.9K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,276
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,809
-
-
π Getting Around
Medellin
Bhairab Bazar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,051
$0.22ΰ§³27.00
290.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.6K
$10.29ΰ§³1,262
302.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,255
$0.86ΰ§³105
70.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 6,997
$0.26ΰ§³31.91
653.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
$2.49ΰ§³305
210.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,403
$1.04ΰ§³128
-8.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.6M
$32.8Kΰ§³4.0M
-44.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.4M
$34.0Kΰ§³4.2M
-22.10%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bhairab Bazar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.2K
$22.88ΰ§³2,807
259.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
$5.87ΰ§³721
61.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.4K
$13.05ΰ§³1,601
85.67%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bhairab Bazar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.3K
$13.34ΰ§³1,636
94.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.7K
$11.70ΰ§³1,435
62.39%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$3.19ΰ§³391
23.20%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bhairab Bazar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$29.70ΰ§³3,644
941.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
$1,358ΰ§³166.6K
339.21%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bhairab Bazar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.1K
$20.31ΰ§³2,492
188.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.3K
$18.40ΰ§³2,257
75.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 365.7K
$52.5ΰ§³6,444
95.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 386.5K
$33.09ΰ§³4,060
227.68%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bhairab Bazar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$69.1ΰ§³8,472
589.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$41.50ΰ§³5,091
812.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$163ΰ§³20.0K
413.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$97.8ΰ§³12.0K
639.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 9.9M
$697ΰ§³85.5K
300.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bhairab Bazar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
11.67
15.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Bhairab Bazar: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $69.1 in Bhairab Bazar. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $15.00 in Bhairab Bazar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $116 β making Bhairab Bazar 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
Medellin vs Bhairab Bazar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bhairab Bazar cheaper than Medellin?
Yes β Medellin is pricier by about 187%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $529 in Bhairab Bazar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bhairab Bazar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Bhairab Bazar?
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Bhairab Bazar?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $352 in Bhairab Bazar. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Bhairab Bazar?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bhairab Bazar, where all-in costs run around $352, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Bhairab Bazar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Bhairab Bazar more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bhairab Bazar β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Bhairab Bazar. 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.