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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $298 in Bhaktapur, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $493 in Bhaktapur, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $687 in Bhaktapur, rent included.

Medellin costs about 466% more than Bhaktapur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Bhaktapur is 78% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.89 COP 24.2K

$1.94 NPR 297

306.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.53 COP 136.5K

$19.91 NPR 3,047

123.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 COP 28.5K

$3.23 NPR 495

187.62%

Cappuccino

$2.90 COP 8,874

$0.94 NPR 144

208.51%

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

$1.81 COP 5,541

$0.49 NPR 75.7

269.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 COP 4,741

$0.14 NPR 21.44

1007.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 COP 9,962

$1.61 NPR 247

101.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 COP 18.0K

$1.66 NPR 254

254.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,230

$0.70 NPR 106

97.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 COP 7,517

$0.45 NPR 68.7

444.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,617

$0.91 NPR 140

65.93%

Eggs

$2.78 COP 8,516

$1.59 NPR 243

74.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 COP 27.7K

$3.35 NPR 512

170.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 COP 32.6K

$3.17 NPR 486

235.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 COP 44.8K

$5.48 NPR 838

166.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 COP 12.2K

$2.07 NPR 317

91.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,219

$1.12 NPR 171

23.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,056

$1.33 NPR 203

72.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 COP 6,185

$0.57 NPR 87.4

254.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 COP 6,390

$0.39 NPR 59.4

435.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 COP 4,996

$0.51 NPR 78.8

219.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 COP 3,313

$0.38 NPR 57.7

184.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 COP 3,843

$0.21 NPR 32.09

495.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 COP 12.4K

$2.66 NPR 408

51.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 COP 41.3K

$5.76 NPR 882

133.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 4,904

$2.34 NPR 358

-31.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 COP 9,189

$1.67 NPR 255

79.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,611

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 COP 4,920

$1.93 NPR 295

-16.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 COP 6,533

$1.16 NPR 178

83.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 COP 26.1K

$3.22 NPR 494

164.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 COP 4,142

$1.37 NPR 210

-1.46%

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

$28.3K COP 86.8M

$29.7K NPR 4.5M

-4.64%

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

$35.7K COP 109.4M

$37.0K NPR 5.7M

-3.52%

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

$151 COP 463.8K

$32.23 NPR 4,934

369.69%

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

$13.10 COP 40.1K

$3.67 NPR 562

256.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.30 COP 99.0K

$7.88 NPR 1,206

309.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.33 COP 141.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

Cinema Ticket

$6.43 COP 19.7K

$2.86 NPR 438

124.83%

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

$835 COP 2.6M

$65.4 NPR 10.0K

1177.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,887 COP 27.2M

$4,982 NPR 762.6K

78.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.3 COP 273.7K

$26.61 NPR 4,073

235.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 COP 169.5K

$28.13 NPR 4,306

96.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 COP 418.5K

$67.5 NPR 10.3K

102.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 335.1K

$32.64 NPR 4,996

235.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 COP 2.9M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 COP 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 COP 6.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 COP 3.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,696 COP 11.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 COP 4.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.43

10.11

3.17%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Bhaktapur: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin versus $20.00 in Bhaktapur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $122 – 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 466%, 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 $2,530 per month in Medellin and $447 in Bhaktapur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,687 in Medellin and $298 in Bhaktapur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $835 per month in Medellin and $65.4 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 $298, than in Medellin at $1,687. 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.