Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Nakhon Ratchasima Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Nakhon Ratchasima

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $799 in Nakhon Ratchasima, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $1,294 in Nakhon Ratchasima, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $1,788 in Nakhon Ratchasima, rent included.

Medellin costs about 105% more than Nakhon Ratchasima, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Nakhon Ratchasima is 42% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Nakhon Ratchasima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04 COP 24.8K
$3.00 ฿99.0
168.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29 COP 148.6K
$26.55 ฿877
81.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 COP 29.0K
$6.38 ฿211
47.65%
Cappuccino
$2.94 COP 9,040
$2.01 ฿66.3
46.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 COP 5,735
$0.55 ฿18.17
238.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 COP 4,479
$0.30 ฿9.86
386.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 COP 9,882
$1.87 ฿61.9
71.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 COP 17.6K
$2.76 ฿91.3
106.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Nakhon Ratchasima
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,428
$1.69 ฿56.0
-14.79%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 COP 7,389
$1.30 ฿43.08
84.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,228
$1.28 ฿42.35
32.81%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 8,896
$1.54 ฿50.8
87.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.06 COP 30.9K
$15.68 ฿518
-35.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.97 COP 30.7K
$2.71 ฿89.6
267.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.20 COP 43.7K
$10.30 ฿340
37.86%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 COP 12.3K
$3.29 ฿109
20.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 COP 4,878
$1.28 ฿42.34
23.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 COP 6,624
$1.97 ฿65.2
9.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,078
$2.02 ฿66.9
13.86%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 COP 6,169
$1.21 ฿40.05
65.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,646
$1.06 ฿34.91
42.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 COP 3,701
$1.30 ฿43.03
-7.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 COP 3,946
$0.36 ฿11.86
255.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84 COP 11.8K
$2.83 ฿93.5
35.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.1K
$18.13 ฿599
-22.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 COP 5,256
$1.68 ฿55.6
1.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 COP 8,440
$3.03 ฿100.0
-9.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Nakhon Ratchasima
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 COP 3,834
$0.48 ฿15.89
160.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 COP 239.7K
$19.78 ฿654
293.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,016
$1.03 ฿34.13
27.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.17 COP 6,680
$1.15 ฿38.16
88.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.29 COP 25.5K
$7.42 ฿245
11.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,172
$1.36 ฿45.08
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K COP 84.5M
$46.0K ฿1.5M
-40.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K COP 112.4M
$27.3K ฿903.1K
33.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Nakhon Ratchasima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 COP 519.2K
$89.9 ฿2,969
87.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 COP 41.8K
$11.69 ฿386
16.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32 COP 87.2K
$19.68 ฿650
43.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Nakhon Ratchasima
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.71 COP 140.7K
$48.99 ฿1,619
-6.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22 COP 53.0K
$15.40 ฿509
11.82%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.5K
$4.93 ฿163
34.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Nakhon Ratchasima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$803 COP 2.5M
$180 ฿5,943
346.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,190 COP 28.3M
$14.9K ฿491.5K
-38.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Nakhon Ratchasima
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4 COP 268.8K
$52.3 ฿1,727
67.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4 COP 182.7K
$30.02 ฿992
97.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 427.5K
$79.9 ฿2,639
73.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 314.0K
$68.2 ฿2,253
49.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Nakhon Ratchasima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,071 COP 3.3M
$220 ฿7,278
386.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 COP 2.0M
$162 ฿5,352
303.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,925 COP 5.9M
$502 ฿16.6K
283.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 COP 3.2M
$425 ฿14.1K
146.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,123 COP 12.7M
$3,331 ฿110.1K
23.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 COP 5.2M
$1,761 ฿58.2K
-3.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Nakhon Ratchasima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$655 COP 2.0M
$625 ฿20.7K
4.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
5.1
114.51%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Nakhon Ratchasima: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $220 in Nakhon Ratchasima. 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 5% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $27.00 in Nakhon Ratchasima. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $241 – making Nakhon Ratchasima 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 Nakhon Ratchasima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nakhon Ratchasima cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 105%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $2,462 per month in Medellin and $1,199 in Nakhon Ratchasima. 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 Nakhon Ratchasima, 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 in Nakhon Ratchasima?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $27.00 in Nakhon Ratchasima. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Nakhon Ratchasima?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,641 in Medellin and $799 in Nakhon Ratchasima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Nakhon Ratchasima?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Nakhon Ratchasima, where all-in costs run around $799, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Nakhon Ratchasima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Nakhon Ratchasima more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nakhon Ratchasima – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Nakhon Ratchasima?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Nakhon Ratchasima. 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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