😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,687 in Medellin versus $336 in Madaripur.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,535 in Medellin versus $539 in Madaripur.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,383 in Medellin versus $741 in Madaripur.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 401% more expensive than in Madaripur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Madaripur is 75% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Madaripur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$1.19৳145
563.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$12.26৳1,496
263.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$5.29৳645
75.61%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.71৳331
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.09৳499
-
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$1.98৳242
46.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$0.37৳45.12
389.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$0.13৳15.83
1092.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Madaripur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$0.76৳92.4
81.58%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$0.60৳73.3
308.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$0.66৳80.7
128.79%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$1.17৳143
137.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$7.27৳887
24.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$2.05৳251
419.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$7.56৳922
93.52%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$2.27৳277
74.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$0.84৳103
64.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$2.08৳254
10.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$0.86৳105
134.88%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$0.43৳53.0
386.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$0.79৳97.0
106.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$0.50৳60.7
116.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$0.32৳39.15
290.62%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$8.75৳1,067
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.78৳95.1
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.49৳182
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$3.03৳370
33.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Madaripur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$0.47৳56.9
151.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$0.84৳103
91.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$0.59৳72.2
261.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$4.17৳509
104.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$1.06৳129
27.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$33.2K৳4.0M
-14.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$44.2K৳5.4M
-19.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Madaripur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$30.34৳3,702
398.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$5.36৳654
144.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$12.25৳1,494
163.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Madaripur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
$14.39৳1,755
221.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$3.56৳435
80.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Madaripur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$36.13৳4,409
2210.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$1,474৳179.8K
503.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Madaripur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$16.44৳2,006
443.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$19.92৳2,430
177.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$20.42৳2,491
568.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$34.75৳4,240
214.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Madaripur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$87.2৳10.6K
992.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$52.1৳6,356
1182.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$167৳20.4K
1110.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$115৳14.1K
897.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
$708৳86.3K
422.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
$1,923৳234.6K
-17.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Madaripur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
$166৳20.2K
277.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
11.32
-7.86%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Madaripur: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $952 in Medellin and $87.2 in Madaripur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 277% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Medellin vs $12.00 in Madaripur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $113 per month, with Madaripur cheaper across the board.
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 Madaripur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Madaripur?
Medellin and Madaripur differ by about 401% in total monthly costs ($1,687 vs $336 including rent). Madaripur is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Medellin or Madaripur?
Average pay runs 277% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Madaripur?
Rent for a central apartment: $952 in Medellin versus $87.2 in Madaripur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Madaripur?
Childcare runs $835 in Medellin versus $36.13 in Madaripur. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Madaripur – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $45.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $336 in Madaripur versus $1,687 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Madaripur but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Madaripur the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Madaripur?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Madaripur?
Expats usually find Madaripur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 401% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.