😐A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $406 in Dhangadhi, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $666 in Dhangadhi, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $925 in Dhangadhi, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 155% more than Dhangadhi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Medellin and Dhangadhi are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Dhangadhi70% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Dhangadhi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$1.85NPR 282
220.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$14.51NPR 2,204
125.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$9.18NPR 1,394
-21.57%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$1.49NPR 226
14.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$0.49NPR 74.6
124.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$0.16NPR 24.80
350.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$2.62NPR 398
-36.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$3.61NPR 549
-14.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Dhangadhi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$0.63NPR 95.3
68.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$0.55NPR 83.5
127.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$0.78NPR 118
78.21%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$1.68NPR 255
34.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$7.28NPR 1,105
-40.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$3.25NPR 494
79.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$6.16NPR 936
43.34%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$2.21NPR 336
1.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$1.05NPR 160
2.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$1.21NPR 183
26.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$0.70NPR 106
95.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$0.49NPR 75.0
130.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$0.69NPR 105
62.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$0.50NPR 75.7
70.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$0.27NPR 41.11
237.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$2.89NPR 439
-19.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$2.29NPR 349
-48.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$3.35NPR 509
-29.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Dhangadhi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$0.18NPR 27.75
338.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$2.13NPR 324
-32.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$0.81NPR 123
135.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$3.53NPR 537
127.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$1.28NPR 194
-26.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$31.7KNPR 4.8M
-43.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$40.2KNPR 6.1M
-33.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Dhangadhi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$26.26NPR 3,988
219.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$5.02NPR 763
91.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$9.90NPR 1,504
144.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Dhangadhi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$18.53NPR 2,815
39.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$2.71NPR 412
44.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Dhangadhi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$72.1NPR 10.9K
325.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$2,774NPR 421.3K
113.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Dhangadhi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$24.65NPR 3,745
134.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$27.39NPR 4,161
16.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$45.73NPR 6,946
118.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$29.23NPR 4,441
266.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Dhangadhi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$104NPR 15.8K
368.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$63.5NPR 9,638
480.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$204NPR 31.0K
304.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$145NPR 22.0K
395.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Dhangadhi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
12.08
11.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Dhangadhi: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $104 in Dhangadhi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $15.00 in Dhangadhi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $130 – making Dhangadhi 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 Dhangadhi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and Dhangadhi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,034 in Medellin, $406 in Dhangadhi – roughly 155% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Dhangadhi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $609 in Dhangadhi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Dhangadhi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Dhangadhi, 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 $33.00 in Medellin and $15.00 in Dhangadhi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 46% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Dhangadhi, where all-in costs run around $406, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Dhangadhi 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 Dhangadhi?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $406 in Dhangadhi to $1,034 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Medellin and Dhangadhi?
If budget matters most, go with Dhangadhi. 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.