😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $390 in Cuttack.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $608 in Cuttack.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $827 in Cuttack.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 164% more expensive than in Cuttack, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Cuttack71% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Cuttack
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$1.67₹161
268.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$8.80₹847
270.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$4.36₹420
68.35%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,600
$1.51₹146
13.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$0.39₹37.25
169.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$0.17₹15.94
352.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,488
$1.39₹133
21.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$2.28₹219
39.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Cuttack
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$0.56₹53.8
87.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$0.45₹42.94
188.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$0.52₹49.83
169.23%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,047
$0.93₹89.2
132.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$3.84₹370
14.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$2.68₹258
119.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,426
$2.24₹215
1.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,604
$0.68₹65.6
63.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,983
$1.37₹132
11.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$0.49₹47.51
175.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$0.28₹27.20
303.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$0.30₹28.96
276.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$0.44₹42.34
93.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.33₹31.61
175.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,630
$2.36₹227
-0.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$4.84₹465
155.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$1.72₹165
-30.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$2.98₹287
-16.44%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$8.03₹773
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Cuttack
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,728
$0.22₹21.12
281.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$12.54₹1,207
223.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$0.24₹23.11
491.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$0.22₹21.14
772.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$2.28₹220
235.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$1.22₹118
-18.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$10.9K₹1.0M
65.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$20.3K₹2.0M
31.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Cuttack
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$36.83₹3,546
119.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$3.26₹314
205.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$8.82₹849
174.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Cuttack
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.7K
$21.31₹2,051
17.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$5.90₹568
224.58%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$3.44₹331
15.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Cuttack
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.5K
$85.5₹8,234
256.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$2,075₹199.8K
191.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Cuttack
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$16.44₹1,582
253.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$13.48₹1,298
138.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$51.6₹4,962
95.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$25.56₹2,461
321.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Cuttack
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$152₹14.7K
212.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$92.1₹8,870
308.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$317₹30.5K
166.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$210₹20.2K
248.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$396₹38.1K
711.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$233₹22.4K
489.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Cuttack
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$435₹41.9K
41.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
7.35
82.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Cuttack: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $152 in Cuttack. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 42% 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 $9.00 in Cuttack for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $95.0 per month, with Cuttack 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 Cuttack: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cuttack cheaper than Medellin?
Cuttack is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 164% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Cuttack?
Average pay runs 42% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Cuttack?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Medellin versus $152 in Cuttack. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Cuttack?
All in, you'll spend $1,031 per month in Medellin versus $390 in Cuttack – a 164% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Cuttack runs roughly 224% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Cuttack?
At $390 in Cuttack versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cuttack but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Cuttack the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Cuttack more family-friendly?
For families, Cuttack 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 safer, Medellin or Cuttack?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Cuttack are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cuttack gentler on the wallet – expenses run 164% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.