Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Dharan Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Dharan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $57.5 in Dharan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $93.0 in Dharan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $128 in Dharan, rent included.

Medellin costs about 2886% more than Dharan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Dharan is 96% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 COP 25.2K

$1.94 NPR 293

313.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.26 COP 151.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.77 COP 30.7K

Cappuccino

$2.91 COP 9,149

$1.61 NPR 243

80.75%

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

$1.94 COP 6,110

$0.38 NPR 57.3

410.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 COP 4,783

$0.12 NPR 18.17

1166.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 COP 9,721

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 COP 18.1K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,287

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 COP 7,505

$0.45 NPR 67.5

431.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,346

Eggs

$2.87 COP 9,021

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 COP 31.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.78 COP 33.9K

$2.53 NPR 382

326.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 COP 46.3K

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 COP 12.8K

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 COP 4,940

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 COP 6,682

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 COP 6,959

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 COP 6,435

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 COP 4,728

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 COP 3,740

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 COP 3,640

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.44 COP 45.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 COP 4,978

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 COP 8,889

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,672

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 244.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,038

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 COP 6,576

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 COP 27.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 COP 4,080

$1.09 NPR 165

19.27%

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

$27.7K COP 86.9M

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

$35.5K COP 111.6M

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

$176 COP 553.4K

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

$13.37 COP 42.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.89 COP 94.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.76 COP 140.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.6K

Cinema Ticket

$6.20 COP 19.5K

$2.00 NPR 303

210.00%

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

$793 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,019 COP 28.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.6 COP 269.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.5 COP 183.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 COP 428.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 COP 324.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,012 COP 6.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,169 COP 3.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 12.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$665 COP 2.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Dharan: August 31, 2026

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 Dharan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 2886% more than Dharan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,574 per month in Medellin and $86.2 in Dharan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,716 in Medellin and $57.5 in Dharan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 1675% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dharan, where all-in costs run around $57.5, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Dharan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dharan costs $57.5 versus $1,716 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Dharan. 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.