😐A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $521 in Ludhiana, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $909 in Ludhiana, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,296 in Ludhiana, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 98% more than Ludhiana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Medellin and Ludhiana are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Ludhiana61% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ludhiana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$2.94₹283
109.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$11.80₹1,136
176.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$4.19₹403
75.18%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,600
$1.97₹190
-12.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$0.40₹38.28
162.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$0.26₹25.14
196.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,488
$1.72₹166
-1.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$3.45₹332
-8.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ludhiana
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$0.75₹72.5
40.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$0.57₹54.9
128.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$0.91₹87.2
53.85%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,047
$0.96₹92.6
125.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$4.42₹425
-0.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$3.48₹335
68.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,426
$2.32₹224
-1.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,604
$0.65₹63.0
70.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,983
$0.95₹91.0
61.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$0.39₹37.56
246.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$0.29₹27.46
289.66%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$0.35₹34.15
222.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$0.45₹43.24
88.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.37₹35.96
145.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,630
$3.62₹349
-35.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$12.66₹1,218
-2.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$1.98₹190
-39.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$3.68₹354
-32.34%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$7.23₹696
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ludhiana
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,728
$0.65₹62.9
29.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$17.72₹1,706
128.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$1.75₹169
-18.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$0.36₹34.21
433.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$2.31₹222
231.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$1.22₹118
-18.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$16.9K₹1.6M
6.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$21.5K₹2.1M
24.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ludhiana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$64.1₹6,173
26.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$3.46₹333
187.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$6.55₹631
269.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ludhiana
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.7K
$16.79₹1,616
49.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$6.23₹600
207.38%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$4.02₹387
-1.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ludhiana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.5K
$79.1₹7,616
285.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$1,604₹154.4K
277.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ludhiana
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$24.35₹2,344
138.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$35.78₹3,445
-10.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$63.4₹6,107
58.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$40.36₹3,886
166.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ludhiana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$206₹19.8K
131.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$123₹11.9K
205.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$508₹48.9K
66.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$487₹46.8K
50.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$593₹57.1K
442.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$486₹46.8K
182.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ludhiana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$421₹40.5K
46.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
8.62
55.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Ludhiana: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $206 in Ludhiana. 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 47% 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 $12.00 in Ludhiana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $123 – making Ludhiana 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 Ludhiana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Ludhiana compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,031 in Medellin, $521 in Ludhiana – roughly 98% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Ludhiana?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $782 in Ludhiana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Ludhiana?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ludhiana, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Ludhiana?
Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Medellin and $79.1 in Ludhiana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 57% 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 Ludhiana, where all-in costs run around $521, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Ludhiana 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 Ludhiana?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $521 in Ludhiana to $1,031 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Medellin and Ludhiana?
If budget matters most, go with Ludhiana. 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.