Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mumbai (Bombay) Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mumbai (Bombay)

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $781 in Mumbai (Bombay), rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,281 in Mumbai (Bombay), rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,781 in Mumbai (Bombay), rent included.

Medellin costs about 30% more than Mumbai (Bombay), driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Mumbai (Bombay) are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Mumbai (Bombay) 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95 COP 20.8K
$5.13 ₹488
15.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33 COP 116.3K
$22.35 ₹2,126
49.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.23 COP 25.2K
$4.69 ₹446
54.16%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 5,687
$2.65 ₹252
-38.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 COP 3,821
$0.47 ₹44.56
131.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 2,548
$0.19 ₹18.19
284.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 COP 6,065
$2.28 ₹217
-23.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 COP 11.3K
$4.12 ₹392
-21.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,662
$0.74 ₹70.2
41.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.29 COP 4,515
$0.52 ₹49.55
148.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 COP 4,617
$0.84 ₹79.5
57.14%
Eggs
$2.27 COP 7,927
$1.07 ₹102
112.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.35 COP 15.2K
$7.05 ₹671
-38.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 20.5K
$3.93 ₹374
49.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.61 COP 30.0K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,844
$2.34 ₹223
-3.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 3,733
$0.77 ₹73.1
38.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 5,322
$1.31 ₹125
16.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 4,964
$0.64 ₹60.6
121.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,084
$0.53 ₹50.0
120.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,077
$0.63 ₹59.7
85.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,096
$0.69 ₹65.7
28.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 3,146
$0.35 ₹33.47
157.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 COP 7,837
$4.16 ₹396
-45.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.04 COP 38.5K
$8.59 ₹817
28.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 COP 3,977
$2.14 ₹203
-46.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 COP 8,301
$3.24 ₹309
-26.54%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$7.22 ₹686
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,916
$0.24 ₹22.96
250.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.95 COP 146.4K
$4.73 ₹450
786.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 4,912
$0.37 ₹34.92
281.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 COP 6,634
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.75 COP 27.0K
$1.43 ₹136
441.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 COP 3,509
$1.22 ₹116
-17.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 61.4M
$17.4K ₹1.7M
1.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COP 92.5M
$25.4K ₹2.4M
4.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.7 COP 292.1K
$51.2 ₹4,865
63.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45 COP 33.0K
$5.03 ₹478
87.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11 COP 84.1K
$8.65 ₹823
178.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.31 COP 88.3K
$22.99 ₹2,186
10.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 66.8K
$11.83 ₹1,125
61.79%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COP 14.3K
$4.53 ₹431
-9.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$312 COP 1.1M
$121 ₹11.5K
157.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,993 COP 20.9M
$3,356 ₹319.1K
78.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0 COP 202.6K
$29.19 ₹2,776
98.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56 COP 113.6K
$30.76 ₹2,925
5.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.6 COP 347.7K
$56.6 ₹5,385
75.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 COP 378.8K
$41.02 ₹3,901
164.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 COP 1.7M
$695 ₹66.1K
-30.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.3M
$350 ₹33.3K
8.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$837 COP 2.9M
$1,778 ₹169.1K
-52.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$723 COP 2.5M
$835 ₹79.4K
-13.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,840 COP 9.9M
$6,331 ₹602.1K
-55.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,223 COP 4.3M
$2,639 ₹251.0K
-53.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$541 COP 1.9M
$737 ₹70.1K
-26.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
9.22
45.66%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $695 in Mumbai (Bombay). 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 36% higher in Mumbai (Bombay), which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $22.00 in Mumbai (Bombay). Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $130 – making Mumbai (Bombay) 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 Mumbai (Bombay): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mumbai (Bombay) cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,171 in Mumbai (Bombay). That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mumbai (Bombay), especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Mumbai (Bombay)?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $22.00 in Mumbai (Bombay). That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Mumbai (Bombay)?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $781 in Mumbai (Bombay). The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Medellin or Mumbai (Bombay)?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mumbai (Bombay), where all-in costs run around $781, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Mumbai (Bombay) it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Mumbai (Bombay) more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mumbai (Bombay) – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mumbai (Bombay). 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.

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