😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $292 in Janakpur, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $505 in Janakpur, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $719 in Janakpur, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 476% more than Janakpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Janakpur is 79% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Janakpur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$1.93NPR 296
315.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$11.65NPR 1,787
310.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$6.42NPR 985
54.05%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$1.52NPR 234
105.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$0.56NPR 85.4
241.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$0.14NPR 21.75
978.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$1.98NPR 304
57.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$1.66NPR 254
246.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Janakpur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$0.61NPR 93.8
136.07%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$0.34NPR 52.3
632.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$0.92NPR 140
92.39%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$1.64NPR 251
80.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$3.21NPR 493
213.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$2.43NPR 372
316.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$6.05NPR 928
136.36%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$1.67NPR 256
147.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$0.64NPR 98.1
151.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$1.03NPR 157
118.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$0.53NPR 81.6
324.53%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$0.30NPR 46.39
580.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$0.50NPR 76.3
208.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$0.22NPR 33.28
431.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$0.18NPR 27.39
627.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$2.32NPR 356
68.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$7.81NPR 1,198
79.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$1.47NPR 225
18.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$1.93NPR 296
48.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Janakpur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$0.68NPR 105
92.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$1.29NPR 198
69.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
$3.30NPR 507
163.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$1.07NPR 163
28.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$23.2KNPR 3.6M
19.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$26.1KNPR 4.0M
37.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Janakpur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$13.17NPR 2,021
1246.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$3.36NPR 516
313.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$3.85NPR 591
671.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Janakpur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
$13.20NPR 2,025
240.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
$6.58NPR 1,010
160.18%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$3.00NPR 461
121.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Janakpur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$32.31NPR 4,958
2416.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$4,862NPR 746.1K
88.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Janakpur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$26.40NPR 4,051
238.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$16.41NPR 2,518
259.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$40.04NPR 6,144
245.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$23.03NPR 3,534
343.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Janakpur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$52.9NPR 8,123
1906.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$22.98NPR 3,525
2784.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$130NPR 19.9K
1352.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$96.3NPR 14.8K
966.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Janakpur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$332NPR 50.9K
104.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
9.72
12.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Janakpur: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $52.9 in Janakpur. 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 104% 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 $12.00 in Janakpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $110 – making Janakpur 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 Janakpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Janakpur compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,681 in Medellin, $292 in Janakpur – roughly 476% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Janakpur?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $438 in Janakpur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Janakpur?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Janakpur, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Janakpur?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $292 in Janakpur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Janakpur?
Kindergarten costs $813 per month in Medellin and $32.31 in Janakpur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Janakpur, where all-in costs run around $292, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Janakpur 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 Janakpur?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $292 in Janakpur to $1,681 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Medellin or Janakpur safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Medellin and Janakpur?
If budget matters most, go with Janakpur. 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.