Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bhaktapur Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bhaktapur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,589 per month in Medellin vs $295 in Bhaktapur, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,364 per month in Medellin vs $503 in Bhaktapur, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,139 per month in Medellin vs $710 in Bhaktapur, rent included.

Medellin costs about 439% more than Bhaktapur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Bhaktapur is 78% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.01 COP 25.6K

$1.91 NPR 294

319.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.55 COP 149.1K

$20.20 NPR 3,110

130.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 COP 30.2K

$3.18 NPR 490

196.54%

Cappuccino

$2.91 COP 9,326

$0.94 NPR 145

209.57%

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

$1.75 COP 5,614

$0.51 NPR 78.5

243.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 COP 4,241

$0.14 NPR 22.16

842.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.13 COP 10.0K

$1.65 NPR 253

89.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.55 COP 17.8K

$1.67 NPR 257

232.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 COP 4,519

$0.64 NPR 98.9

120.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 COP 7,818

$0.49 NPR 75.6

397.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 COP 5,218

$0.90 NPR 138

81.11%

Eggs

$2.82 COP 9,038

$1.64 NPR 252

71.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 COP 31.1K

$3.25 NPR 500

198.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.32 COP 29.8K

$3.22 NPR 495

189.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.46 COP 43.1K

$5.98 NPR 921

125.08%

Apples (1kg)

$4.00 COP 12.8K

$2.10 NPR 323

90.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 COP 4,744

$1.14 NPR 175

29.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 COP 6,804

$1.27 NPR 195

66.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,216

$0.59 NPR 91.3

281.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 COP 6,124

$0.42 NPR 64.4

354.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.62 COP 5,188

$0.55 NPR 84.6

194.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 COP 3,677

$0.37 NPR 57.5

210.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 COP 4,043

$0.22 NPR 33.72

472.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.82 COP 12.2K

$2.43 NPR 375

57.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.11 COP 42.0K

$5.95 NPR 917

120.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 5,110

$2.19 NPR 337

-26.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 COP 7,226

$1.65 NPR 254

36.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,751

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.0 COP 240.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 COP 4,077

$1.90 NPR 293

-33.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 COP 6,566

$1.26 NPR 195

62.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.20 COP 26.3K

$3.19 NPR 490

157.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 COP 4,067

$1.38 NPR 213

-7.97%

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

$26.8K COP 85.8M

$28.8K NPR 4.4M

-7.07%

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

$34.4K COP 110.2M

$36.2K NPR 5.6M

-5.07%

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

$162 COP 519.6K

$31.85 NPR 4,905

409.29%

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

$13.12 COP 42.0K

$3.39 NPR 522

287.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.09 COP 90.0K

$8.18 NPR 1,260

243.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.33 COP 142.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 COP 52.3K

Cinema Ticket

$6.09 COP 19.5K

$2.88 NPR 443

111.46%

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

$764 COP 2.4M

$64.9 NPR 9,994

1077.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,904 COP 28.5M

$4,830 NPR 743.6K

84.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.0 COP 272.2K

$25.63 NPR 3,946

231.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.5 COP 184.1K

$26.15 NPR 4,026

119.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 COP 422.1K

$62.8 NPR 9,669

109.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.8 COP 306.7K

$28.36 NPR 4,367

237.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,028 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 COP 1.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,802 COP 5.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$993 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,921 COP 12.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,639 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$626 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

9.72

12.55%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026

Last update for Bhaktapur: October 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Medellin versus $20.00 in Bhaktapur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $123 – making Bhaktapur 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 Bhaktapur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 439%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,384 per month in Medellin and $442 in Bhaktapur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,589 in Medellin and $295 in Bhaktapur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $764 per month in Medellin and $64.9 in Bhaktapur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bhaktapur, where all-in costs run around $295, than in Medellin at $1,589. In Bhaktapur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bhaktapur – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bhaktapur. 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.