πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $335 in Madaripur.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $556 in Madaripur.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $777 in Madaripur.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 204% more expensive than Madaripur, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Madaripur75% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Madaripur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
$1.63ΰ§³199
265.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
$14.64ΰ§³1,794
127.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
$7.55ΰ§³925
-4.24%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$5.71ΰ§³699
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.11ΰ§³504
-
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
$1.62ΰ§³199
0.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
$0.36ΰ§³43.76
202.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
$0.16ΰ§³19.77
356.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
-
-
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Madaripur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
$0.74ΰ§³90.6
41.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
$0.57ΰ§³70.1
126.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
$0.64ΰ§³78.7
106.25%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
$1.17ΰ§³143
94.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
$9.25ΰ§³1,134
-52.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
$1.62ΰ§³199
262.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
$7.23ΰ§³886
19.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
$2.18ΰ§³268
3.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
$0.96ΰ§³117
11.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
$2.06ΰ§³253
-26.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
$0.79ΰ§³96.9
79.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
$0.48ΰ§³59.1
143.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
$0.84ΰ§³102
39.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
$0.37ΰ§³45.50
140.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
$0.27ΰ§³33.41
233.33%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$8.81ΰ§³1,079
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.81ΰ§³99.1
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.44ΰ§³176
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
$2.92ΰ§³358
-22.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
-
-
π Getting Around
Medellin
Madaripur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
$0.22ΰ§³26.99
281.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
$10.13ΰ§³1,241
314.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
$0.86ΰ§³105
63.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
$0.39ΰ§³48.12
387.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
$2.49ΰ§³305
211.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
$1.00ΰ§³123
1.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
$32.4Kΰ§³4.0M
-45.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
$34.5Kΰ§³4.2M
-23.16%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Madaripur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
$22.31ΰ§³2,733
275.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
$5.57ΰ§³683
69.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
$13.12ΰ§³1,608
83.77%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Madaripur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
$13.52ΰ§³1,656
87.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
$11.62ΰ§³1,424
64.72%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
$3.27ΰ§³400
25.38%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Madaripur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$29.74ΰ§³3,644
948.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
$1,381ΰ§³169.2K
333.96%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Madaripur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
$16.32ΰ§³1,999
255.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
$18.82ΰ§³2,307
73.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
$20.79ΰ§³2,548
379.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 378.8K
$33.84ΰ§³4,147
220.74%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Madaripur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$68.6ΰ§³8,402
603.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.3M
$42.36ΰ§³5,191
795.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 2.9M
$162ΰ§³19.8K
418.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.5M
$96.6ΰ§³11.8K
648.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
$764ΰ§³93.6K
271.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
$1,934ΰ§³237.0K
-36.76%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Madaripur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
$161ΰ§³19.8K
235.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
11.32
18.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for Madaripur: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $68.6 in Madaripur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Medellin pays 235% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $15.00 in Madaripur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $115 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 Madaripur?
Medellin and Madaripur differ by about 204% in total monthly costs ($1,017 vs $335 including rent). Madaripur is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Medellin or Madaripur?
Medellin pays 235% more on average, 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 Madaripur?
Rent for a central apartment: $482 in Medellin versus $68.6 in Madaripur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Madaripur β a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Madaripur?
All in, you'll spend $1,017 per month in Medellin versus $335 in Madaripur β a 204% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $335 in Madaripur versus $1,017 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 β 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 β expenses run 204% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.