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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $323 in Dhanbad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $520 in Dhanbad, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $716 in Dhanbad, rent included.

Medellin costs about 214% more than Dhanbad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Dhanbad are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Dhanbad 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$2.36 ₹224

152.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$7.18 ₹683

364.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$3.54 ₹337

104.24%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$0.84 ₹79.6

94.05%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.28 ₹26.38

289.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.16 ₹14.86

356.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$2.34 ₹222

-25.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$4.73 ₹450

-31.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$0.62 ₹59.0

69.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.45 ₹42.86

186.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$0.54 ₹51.0

144.44%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.03 ₹97.6

120.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$3.91 ₹372

11.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$2.60 ₹247

126.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$1.39 ₹133

61.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$0.81 ₹77.3

32.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$0.78 ₹74.6

94.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$0.43 ₹40.43

230.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.26 ₹24.85

350.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.46 ₹43.59

154.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.24 ₹22.85

270.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.22 ₹20.82

309.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$2.58 ₹246

-12.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$3.13 ₹297

252.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$2.10 ₹199

-45.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.35 ₹223

1.28%

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

$6.78 ₹645

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.37 ₹34.94

127.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$8.71 ₹828

381.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$1.19 ₹113

18.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.11 ₹10.92

1627.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$1.13 ₹108

585.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.17 ₹112

-13.68%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$9,447 ₹898.4K

86.09%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$32.5K ₹3.1M

-18.44%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$41.45 ₹3,941

101.88%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$3.12 ₹296

202.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$7.30 ₹694

230.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$11.23 ₹1,068

125.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$6.88 ₹654

178.20%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$2.89 ₹274

41.87%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$26.68 ₹2,537

1069.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$1,100 ₹104.6K

445.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$22.08 ₹2,100

162.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$27.74 ₹2,638

17.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$39.19 ₹3,727

154.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$29.42 ₹2,798

268.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$66.9 ₹6,365

620.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$45.38 ₹4,316

736.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$190 ₹18.1K

341.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$123 ₹11.7K

486.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$1,578 ₹150.0K

80.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$377 ₹35.8K

43.59%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Dhanbad: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $66.9 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 44% 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: $190 vs $86.0 – 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 214%, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $485 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 $1,017 in Medellin and $323 in Dhanbad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 382% 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 $323, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.