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 $1,028 per month in Medellin vs $390 in Port Blair, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $619 in Port Blair, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,144 per month in Medellin vs $848 in Port Blair, rent included.

Medellin costs about 164% 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
$6.00 COP 20.6K
$2.40 ₹227
150.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.84 COP 112.5K
$10.44 ₹988
214.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.42 COP 25.4K
$3.71 ₹351
100.00%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,659
$1.59 ₹150
3.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 COP 3,663
$0.37 ₹35.23
189.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 COP 2,607
$0.16 ₹15.40
375.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,908
$1.72 ₹163
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 COP 11.0K
$3.14 ₹297
1.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Port Blair
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,597
$0.66 ₹62.1
59.09%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,479
$0.49 ₹46.36
167.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.34 COP 4,591
$0.70 ₹66.5
91.43%
Eggs
$2.19 COP 7,521
$0.91 ₹86.1
140.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.41 COP 15.1K
$5.14 ₹486
-14.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.69 COP 19.5K
$2.96 ₹280
92.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.52 COP 29.2K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COP 8,023
$2.05 ₹194
14.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,804
$0.67 ₹63.8
65.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 5,210
$0.95 ₹89.7
60.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,680
$0.51 ₹47.84
168.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COP 3,950
$0.35 ₹33.53
228.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,043
$0.45 ₹42.55
162.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.84 COP 2,885
$0.48 ₹45.81
75.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 COP 2,931
$0.35 ₹32.76
145.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 7,753
$3.84 ₹363
-41.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.60 COP 39.8K
$7.19 ₹680
61.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,109
$1.70 ₹161
-29.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 8,484
$2.90 ₹275
-14.48%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.24 ₹496
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Port Blair
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,721
$0.30 ₹28.39
163.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.83 COP 139.9K
$8.70 ₹823
369.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,023
$0.84 ₹79.6
75.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,568
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.77 COP 26.6K
$1.41 ₹133
451.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 COP 3,464
$1.16 ₹109
-12.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7K COP 60.5M
$13.7K ₹1.3M
28.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COP 90.7M
$22.0K ₹2.1M
20.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Port Blair
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 277.9K
$38.96 ₹3,686
108.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.43 COP 32.3K
$3.52 ₹333
167.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.86 COP 81.8K
$7.19 ₹681
231.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Port Blair
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.99 COP 89.1K
$16.20 ₹1,532
60.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71 COP 64.1K
$7.17 ₹678
160.95%
Cinema Ticket
$4.09 COP 14.0K
$4.40 ₹416
-7.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Port Blair
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$315 COP 1.1M
$52.2 ₹4,941
502.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,022 COP 20.6M
$1,524 ₹144.1K
295.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Port Blair
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7 COP 204.6K
$24.14 ₹2,284
147.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.97 COP 109.6K
$25.57 ₹2,419
25.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 346.9K
$42.99 ₹4,068
135.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 COP 360.3K
$31.42 ₹2,972
234.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Port Blair
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$485 COP 1.7M
$95.3 ₹9,013
409.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$365 COP 1.3M
$77.3 ₹7,311
372.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 2.8M
$275 ₹26.0K
200.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.5M
$181 ₹17.1K
303.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,992 COP 10.3M
$979 ₹92.6K
205.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,314 COP 4.5M
$518 ₹49.0K
153.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Port Blair
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$551 COP 1.9M
$643 ₹60.9K
-14.37%
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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Port Blair: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Medellin versus $95.3 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 17% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $10.00 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 164%, 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 $1,542 per month in Medellin and $584 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 $10.00 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 $1,028 in Medellin and $390 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 $390, than in Medellin at $1,028. 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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