😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $394 in Cuttack.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $608 in Cuttack.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $821 in Cuttack.
😐Living in Medellin is roughly 157% more expensive than Cuttack, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Cuttack71% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Cuttack
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COP 21.4K
$1.61₹154
272.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COP 117.2K
$9.18₹879
257.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COP 25.3K
$4.43₹424
60.05%
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 6,105
$1.56₹150
9.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,918
$0.35₹33.69
214.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,776
$0.13₹12.40
500.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COP 5,987
$1.34₹128
25.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COP 10.9K
$2.39₹229
28.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Cuttack
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COP 3,899
$0.60₹57.6
81.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 4,500
$0.42₹39.76
200.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,914
$0.49₹46.42
181.63%
Eggs
$2.19COP 7,813
$0.92₹88.4
138.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COP 15.7K
$3.82₹366
15.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COP 20.1K
$2.74₹263
105.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COP 31.7K
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 8,334
$2.26₹217
3.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,771
$0.67₹64.0
58.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COP 5,365
$1.36₹130
10.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,915
$0.50₹47.61
176.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COP 4,104
$0.28₹26.83
310.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,148
$0.28₹26.39
314.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COP 3,176
$0.44₹41.78
102.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COP 2,992
$0.35₹33.80
140.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COP 8,131
$2.35₹225
-2.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COP 37.9K
$4.79₹459
122.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,276
$1.72₹165
-30.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COP 8,809
$2.99₹286
-17.39%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$7.98₹764
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Cuttack
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COP 3,051
$0.24₹23.04
258.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COP 147.6K
$13.03₹1,247
217.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COP 5,255
$0.24₹23.06
512.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COP 6,997
$0.22₹20.94
790.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COP 27.6K
$2.39₹229
223.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COP 3,403
$1.22₹117
-22.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOP 64.6M
$10.6K₹1.0M
70.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 94.4M
$20.5K₹2.0M
28.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Cuttack
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COP 293.2K
$36.98₹3,539
122.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COP 33.9K
$3.32₹317
186.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COP 86.4K
$8.74₹837
177.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Cuttack
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COP 92.3K
$21.59₹2,066
19.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COP 67.7K
$5.90₹565
222.03%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COP 14.0K
$3.56₹340
10.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Cuttack
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COP 1.1M
$83.5₹7,992
270.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COP 21.3M
$2,032₹194.4K
193.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Cuttack
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COP 209.1K
$16.43₹1,572
257.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COP 115.3K
$13.30₹1,273
143.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COP 365.7K
$51.4₹4,916
99.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 386.5K
$25.30₹2,421
328.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Cuttack
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COP 1.7M
$152₹14.6K
212.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COP 1.4M
$94.1₹9,002
302.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COP 3.0M
$313₹30.0K
167.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COP 2.6M
$215₹20.6K
235.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COP 9.9M
$401₹38.3K
596.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COP 4.3M
$233₹22.3K
419.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Cuttack
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COP 1.8M
$436₹41.7K
17.36%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Cuttack: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $152 in Cuttack. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 17% 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 $188 vs $96.0 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, Sport & Entertainment. The 157% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Cuttack?
Medellin pays 17% more on average, 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: $476 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 vs Cuttack?
All in, you'll spend $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $394 in Cuttack – a 157% 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 218% 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 Medellin or Cuttack?
At $394 in Cuttack versus $1,013 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 157% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.