Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Patna

For one person, living is cheaper in Patna: $368 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $15,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Patna, India
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Patna
🇮🇳 India
$368
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Patna

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Patna actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $368 in Patna, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Patna $368

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $605 in Patna, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Patna $605

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $842 in Patna, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Patna $842

Medellin costs about 345% more than Patna, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Patna is 73% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Patna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.4K
$2.04 ₹194
296.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 148.0K
$9.33 ₹889
404.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 29.9K
$3.06 ₹291
210.46%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,485
$1.65 ₹157
82.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,660
$0.35 ₹33.79
414.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,443
$0.17 ₹16.25
729.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 9,990
$1.90 ₹181
67.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.1K
$6.00 ₹572
-4.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Patna
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,751
$0.60 ₹57.4
151.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,480
$0.43 ₹41.03
453.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,573
$0.53 ₹50.2
233.96%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,093
$0.95 ₹90.6
204.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.1K
$6.73 ₹641
51.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.1K
$2.17 ₹206
354.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.0K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.5K
$1.35 ₹129
194.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,883
$0.68 ₹64.8
127.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,867
$1.05 ₹100.0
107.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,870
$0.45 ₹42.78
384.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,174
$0.33 ₹31.27
493.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,000
$0.49 ₹46.78
224.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,604
$0.44 ₹41.81
161.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,911
$0.29 ₹27.64
327.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.5K
$5.10 ₹486
-22.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.0K
$6.32 ₹602
116.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,221
$1.59 ₹151
4.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,103
$2.08 ₹198
8.65%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$6.63 ₹631
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Patna
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,674
$0.33 ₹31.50
254.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 243.4K
$4.82 ₹459
1505.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 3,989
$1.28 ₹122
-0.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,442
$0.16 ₹15.17
1181.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 26.9K
$2.12 ₹202
303.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,237
$1.10 ₹104
22.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 107.2M
$11.1K ₹1.1M
205.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.1M
$27.0K ₹2.6M
28.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Patna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 533.7K
$44.79 ₹4,264
278.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.6K
$2.94 ₹279
360.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.3K
$6.46 ₹615
334.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Patna
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 137.5K
$21.52 ₹2,049
103.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.1K
$12.17 ₹1,159
41.25%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.7K
$3.38 ₹322
104.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Patna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
$54.5 ₹5,191
1361.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.7M
$1,713 ₹163.1K
431.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Patna
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 266.5K
$23.86 ₹2,272
255.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 182.3K
$29.25 ₹2,785
98.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 424.6K
$37.98 ₹3,616
255.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 307.9K
$34.04 ₹3,241
187.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Patna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$82.0 ₹7,804
1373.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$56.1 ₹5,343
1043.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$280 ₹26.6K
624.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$184 ₹17.6K
448.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.1M
$1,195 ₹113.8K
249.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.0M
$564 ₹53.7K
238.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Patna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$342 ₹32.5K
92.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
9.46
15.64%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Patna: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Patna
$56 91.3% $585
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Patna
$97 67.5% $200
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Patna
$54 74.4% $157
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Patna
$69 59.4% $101
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Patna
$56 66.7% $113
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Patna
$8.2 91.2% $85
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Patna
$28 50.8% $29

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $82 in Patna. 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 92% 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 $47 in Medellin versus $9 in Patna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $96 – making Patna the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇮🇳 Patna
🕒 Local time
18:47 6:47 PM
05:17 5:17 AM
10 h 30 min ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
500,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 3,146 COP (10,000 COP = 3.18 USD). 1 EUR = 3,502 COP (10,000 COP = 2.86 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 95.22 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.43 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Patna 15,900 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Patna

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Patna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Patna cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 345%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $553 in Patna. 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 Patna, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $82 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Patna?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $9 in Patna. 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 Patna?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,639 in Medellin and $368 in Patna. That makes Patna about 78% cheaper.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Patna?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Patna, where all-in costs run around $368, than in Medellin at $1,639. In Patna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Patna more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Patna – 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 Patna. If higher salaries 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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