Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Dhanbad Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Dhanbad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $327 in Dhanbad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $511 in Dhanbad, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $695 in Dhanbad, rent included.

Medellin costs about 207% more than Dhanbad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Dhanbad are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Dhanbad 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$2.27 ₹217

160.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$6.92 ₹660

376.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$3.56 ₹340

108.71%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$0.85 ₹81.5

94.12%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.30 ₹28.80

266.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.18 ₹17.53

333.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$2.28 ₹218

-24.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$4.62 ₹441

-31.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$0.62 ₹59.0

77.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.45 ₹43.11

180.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$0.58 ₹55.6

137.93%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.08 ₹103

101.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$4.06 ₹387

10.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$2.69 ₹256

115.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$1.35 ₹128

71.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$0.82 ₹78.3

29.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$0.82 ₹78.5

85.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$0.42 ₹40.37

223.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.24 ₹22.82

370.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.45 ₹43.04

160.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.24 ₹22.98

275.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.24 ₹22.90

275.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$2.62 ₹250

-14.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$3.22 ₹307

276.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$2.00 ₹191

-40.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.40 ₹229

3.33%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$6.76 ₹645

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.34 ₹32.26

150.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$8.50 ₹810

389.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$1.14 ₹108

24.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.11 ₹10.84

1672.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$1.19 ₹114

563.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.19 ₹113

-16.81%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$9,141 ₹871.7K

92.57%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$32.6K ₹3.1M

-17.86%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$40.67 ₹3,879

104.11%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$3.23 ₹308

200.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$7.27 ₹693

223.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$11.45 ₹1,092

120.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$6.92 ₹660

176.01%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$2.95 ₹281

33.90%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$27.10 ₹2,584

1065.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$1,104 ₹105.2K

441.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$22.03 ₹2,101

172.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$28.11 ₹2,680

13.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$38.92 ₹3,711

161.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$29.63 ₹2,826

262.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$67.0 ₹6,389

608.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$45.45 ₹4,335

722.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$189 ₹18.0K

348.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$127 ₹12.1K

467.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$1,576 ₹150.3K

107.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$379 ₹36.2K

64.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

49.22%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Dhanbad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $67.0 in Dhanbad. 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 65% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $7.00 in Dhanbad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $87.0 – making Dhanbad 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 Dhanbad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 207%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $490 in Dhanbad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dhanbad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $327 in Dhanbad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 390% less in Dhanbad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dhanbad, where all-in costs run around $327, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Dhanbad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dhanbad – 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 Dhanbad. 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.