Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Delhi Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Delhi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $527 in Delhi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $880 in Delhi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,232 in Delhi, rent included.

Medellin costs about 219% more than Delhi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Delhi is 61% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Delhi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.0K
$3.66 ₹352
119.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 149.4K
$20.58 ₹1,975
132.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 30.8K
$3.87 ₹372
155.56%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,767
$2.37 ₹227
32.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 5,954
$0.38 ₹36.50
402.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,712
$0.16 ₹15.66
843.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,747
$2.06 ₹197
51.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 17.9K
$3.09 ₹297
86.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Delhi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,509
$0.69 ₹66.2
108.70%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,759
$0.52 ₹49.83
378.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,535
$0.79 ₹75.7
124.05%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,235
$1.12 ₹107
164.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 31.4K
$4.42 ₹424
127.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 31.6K
$3.40 ₹326
197.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 44.6K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 12.9K
$2.01 ₹193
105.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,019
$0.74 ₹71.4
117.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,007
$0.98 ₹94.0
129.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,028
$0.54 ₹52.1
316.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,375
$0.29 ₹27.71
603.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,790
$0.41 ₹39.14
275.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,651
$0.49 ₹46.64
138.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,077
$0.29 ₹27.55
351.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$4.96 ₹475
-21.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.7K
$8.59 ₹824
63.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,439
$1.67 ₹160
4.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 8,956
$2.71 ₹260
5.90%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$6.18 ₹593
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Delhi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,792
$0.44 ₹41.90
177.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 251.1K
$15.54 ₹1,491
417.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,084
$0.96 ₹91.9
36.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,825
$0.25 ₹23.84
776.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.2K
$1.59 ₹153
447.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,260
$1.10 ₹105
24.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 86.9M
$11.4K ₹1.1M
144.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 111.6M
$19.2K ₹1.8M
86.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Delhi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 553.2K
$41.81 ₹4,012
324.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 43.3K
$4.10 ₹393
238.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 92.8K
$6.84 ₹656
334.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Delhi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 140.1K
$19.63 ₹1,883
128.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 53.4K
$8.42 ₹807
103.33%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.7K
$5.12 ₹491
29.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Delhi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.5M
$99.2 ₹9,519
719.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 28.7M
$2,050 ₹196.7K
348.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Delhi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 279.3K
$25.16 ₹2,414
255.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 184.0K
$28.75 ₹2,758
105.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 431.2K
$52.9 ₹5,070
161.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 318.7K
$46.54 ₹4,465
119.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Delhi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.3M
$270 ₹25.9K
292.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
$152 ₹14.6K
335.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 5.9M
$690 ₹66.2K
173.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.2M
$370 ₹35.5K
177.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.1M
$2,525 ₹242.3K
65.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.2M
$950 ₹91.2K
76.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Delhi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.1M
$582 ₹55.8K
16.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
8.6
27.21%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Delhi: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $270 in Delhi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 17% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $21.00 in Delhi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $109 – making Delhi 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 Delhi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Delhi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,681 in Medellin, $527 in Delhi – roughly 219% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Delhi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $791 in Delhi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Delhi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Delhi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $21.00 in Delhi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Delhi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $527 in Delhi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Delhi, where all-in costs run around $527, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Delhi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Delhi?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $527 in Delhi to $1,681 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Medellin and Delhi?
If budget matters most, go with Delhi. 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.

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