😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,687 in Medellin versus $513 in Dehradun.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,535 in Medellin versus $760 in Dehradun.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,383 in Medellin versus $1,007 in Dehradun.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 229% more expensive than in Dehradun, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Dehradun is 63% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Dehradun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$2.80₹268
181.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$10.46₹1,001
325.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$3.69₹354
151.76%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$2.11₹202
37.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$0.38₹36.41
376.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$0.13₹12.52
1092.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$1.89₹181
71.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$3.12₹298
88.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Dehradun
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$0.67₹63.7
105.97%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$0.52₹49.94
371.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$0.63₹59.8
139.68%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$0.87₹83.6
219.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$5.27₹504
71.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$3.30₹315
222.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$1.79₹172
121.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$0.71₹67.6
94.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$0.68₹64.9
238.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$0.44₹42.13
359.09%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$0.28₹26.53
646.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$0.34₹32.43
379.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$0.49₹46.66
120.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$0.27₹25.50
362.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$4.17₹399
-3.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$10.07₹964
33.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$1.47₹141
8.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$2.07₹198
44.93%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.80₹459
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Dehradun
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$0.38₹36.45
210.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
$12.74₹1,219
527.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$1.03₹98.1
56.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$0.32₹31.05
565.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$1.55₹148
449.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$1.09₹104
23.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$13.2K₹1.3M
114.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$18.2K₹1.7M
95.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Dehradun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$63.4₹6,065
138.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$3.73₹357
251.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$7.05₹675
358.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Dehradun
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
$16.31₹1,560
184.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
$9.48₹907
82.07%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$3.62₹347
77.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Dehradun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$50.4₹4,825
1555.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$4,291₹410.7K
107.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Dehradun
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$24.62₹2,356
262.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$27.56₹2,637
100.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$37.79₹3,617
261.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$39.93₹3,821
173.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Dehradun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$214₹20.4K
345.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$155₹14.8K
331.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$417₹39.9K
384.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$259₹24.8K
343.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
$718₹68.7K
414.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
$473₹45.2K
235.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Dehradun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
$359₹34.3K
74.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
8.88
17.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Dehradun: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $952 in Medellin and $214 in Dehradun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 74% 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: $45.00 in Medellin vs $10.00 in Dehradun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $107 per month, with Dehradun 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 Dehradun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dehradun cheaper than Medellin?
Dehradun is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 229% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Dehradun?
Average pay runs 74% 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 Dehradun?
Rent for a central apartment: $952 in Medellin versus $214 in Dehradun. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Dehradun?
Supermarket bills run roughly 179% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Dehradun?
Dining out is cheaper in Dehradun – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $45.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Dehradun?
At $513 in Dehradun versus $1,687 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dehradun but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Dehradun the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Dehradun more family-friendly?
For families, Dehradun 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 Dehradun?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Dehradun 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 Dehradun gentler on the wallet – expenses run 229% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.