Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Port Blair Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Port Blair

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,030 per month in Medellin vs $383 in Port Blair, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $607 in Port Blair, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $832 in Port Blair, rent included.

Medellin costs about 169% more than Port Blair, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Port Blair are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Port Blair 71% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Port Blair
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.2K
$2.39 ₹225
147.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 118.7K
$10.68 ₹1,002
210.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.25 COP 25.9K
$3.63 ₹340
99.72%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COP 6,137
$1.59 ₹150
7.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 COP 3,915
$0.37 ₹35.13
194.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,743
$0.17 ₹16.31
352.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.75 COP 6,254
$1.77 ₹166
-1.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 11.4K
$3.00 ₹282
6.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Port Blair
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,792
$0.70 ₹65.9
51.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,657
$0.45 ₹41.96
188.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,926
$0.67 ₹62.6
105.97%
Eggs
$2.21 COP 7,908
$0.90 ₹84.3
145.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.52 COP 16.2K
$5.10 ₹479
-11.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COP 20.7K
$2.98 ₹279
94.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 32.1K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 COP 8,182
$2.00 ₹187
14.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,791
$0.72 ₹67.3
47.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,411
$0.93 ₹87.8
62.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,869
$0.50 ₹47.37
172.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,146
$0.38 ₹36.03
205.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,174
$0.44 ₹41.71
165.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.83 COP 2,960
$0.48 ₹45.24
72.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 COP 3,043
$0.32 ₹29.57
165.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 8,423
$4.03 ₹379
-41.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.09 COP 39.7K
$7.32 ₹687
51.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 COP 4,133
$1.77 ₹166
-35.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COP 8,853
$2.80 ₹263
-11.79%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.05 ₹474
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Port Blair
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,827
$0.30 ₹28.37
163.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.85 COP 149.8K
$8.74 ₹820
378.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,140
$0.84 ₹78.8
71.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 COP 6,793
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.70 COP 27.6K
$1.43 ₹135
438.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 COP 3,680
$1.22 ₹115
-15.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7K COP 63.3M
$14.1K ₹1.3M
25.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K COP 96.7M
$21.6K ₹2.0M
24.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Port Blair
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.4 COP 291.4K
$39.10 ₹3,669
108.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42 COP 33.7K
$3.53 ₹331
166.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.77 COP 85.1K
$7.32 ₹687
224.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Port Blair
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.86 COP 92.6K
$16.16 ₹1,517
60.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.34 COP 69.2K
$6.98 ₹655
177.08%
Cinema Ticket
$4.05 COP 14.5K
$4.35 ₹408
-6.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Port Blair
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$312 COP 1.1M
$50.7 ₹4,755
516.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,067 COP 21.7M
$1,557 ₹146.2K
289.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Port Blair
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9 COP 210.7K
$24.54 ₹2,303
139.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.82 COP 117.5K
$25.60 ₹2,403
28.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 COP 359.6K
$43.18 ₹4,053
132.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 380.3K
$31.87 ₹2,991
233.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Port Blair
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 COP 1.8M
$96.9 ₹9,095
405.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COP 1.3M
$76.0 ₹7,133
387.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COP 3.0M
$278 ₹26.1K
200.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$715 COP 2.6M
$183 ₹17.2K
290.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,952 COP 10.6M
$946 ₹88.8K
211.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,394 COP 5.0M
$523 ₹49.1K
166.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Port Blair
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$532 COP 1.9M
$651 ₹61.1K
-18.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
8.67
54.90%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026

Last update for Port Blair: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Medellin versus $97 in Port Blair. 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 22% higher in Port Blair, 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 in Medellin versus $11 in Port Blair. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $105 – making Port Blair 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 Port Blair: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Blair cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 169%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,544 per month in Medellin and $574 in Port Blair. 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 Port Blair, 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 Port Blair?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $11.00 in Port Blair. 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 Port Blair?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,030 in Medellin and $383 in Port Blair. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Port Blair?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Port Blair, where all-in costs run around $383, than in Medellin at $1,030. In Port Blair it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Port Blair more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Port Blair – 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 Port Blair?
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 Port Blair. 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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