Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kirtipur Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kirtipur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $361 in Kirtipur, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $591 in Kirtipur, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $822 in Kirtipur, rent included.

Medellin costs about 365% more than Kirtipur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Kirtipur is 74% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.3K

$1.99 NPR 306

303.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 151.0K

$20.44 NPR 3,136

134.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 31.2K

$7.92 NPR 1,216

24.87%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,873

$1.54 NPR 237

103.25%

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

$1.91 COP 6,019

$0.56 NPR 85.6

241.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,763

$0.17 NPR 25.78

788.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,853

$3.28 NPR 504

-4.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 18.1K

$3.66 NPR 562

57.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,558

$0.67 NPR 103

114.93%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,843

$0.64 NPR 98.0

289.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,595

$0.92 NPR 141

92.39%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,336

$1.62 NPR 248

82.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.8K

$7.47 NPR 1,145

34.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.9K

$3.28 NPR 503

208.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 45.1K

$5.78 NPR 886

147.40%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 13.0K

$2.09 NPR 320

98.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,073

$1.09 NPR 168

47.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,083

$1.35 NPR 207

66.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,104

$0.56 NPR 86.6

301.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,444

$0.38 NPR 58.7

436.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,842

$0.53 NPR 81.8

190.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,691

$0.49 NPR 74.7

138.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,121

$0.23 NPR 35.03

469.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.3K

$2.69 NPR 413

44.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 44.2K

$7.84 NPR 1,203

78.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,498

$2.21 NPR 338

-21.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 9,053

$3.04 NPR 467

-5.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,834

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 253.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,129

$1.93 NPR 296

-32.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,899

$1.28 NPR 197

71.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.5K

$3.29 NPR 504

164.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,306

$1.33 NPR 204

3.01%

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

$27.8K COP 87.8M

$30.0K NPR 4.6M

-7.07%

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

$35.8K COP 112.8M

$36.6K NPR 5.6M

-2.35%

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

$177 COP 559.3K

$31.30 NPR 4,802

466.45%

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

$13.88 COP 43.8K

$3.33 NPR 510

316.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 93.8K

$7.91 NPR 1,213

275.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 141.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 54.0K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 21.0K

$2.96 NPR 454

124.66%

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

$813 COP 2.6M

$67.5 NPR 10.3K

1105.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 29.0M

$4,741 NPR 727.4K

93.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 282.3K

$26.49 NPR 4,064

237.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 186.0K

$28.47 NPR 4,367

107.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 435.9K

$66.5 NPR 10.2K

107.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 322.1K

$29.52 NPR 4,528

245.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 6.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

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 Kirtipur: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $20.00 in Kirtipur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $144 – making Kirtipur 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 Kirtipur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 365%, 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $542 in Kirtipur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $361 in Kirtipur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $813 per month in Medellin and $67.5 in Kirtipur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kirtipur, where all-in costs run around $361, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Kirtipur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kirtipur – 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 Kirtipur. 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.