😐A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $356 in Ratlam, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $525 in Ratlam, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $695 in Ratlam, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 182% more than Ratlam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Medellin and Ratlam are more affordable than the global median – Medellin25% lower, Ratlam73% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ratlam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.9K
$1.90₹182
211.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 105.2K
$6.83₹653
382.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.7K
$2.97₹284
150.17%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,276
$1.57₹150
5.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,514
$0.34₹32.21
223.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,491
$0.16₹14.99
387.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,484
$2.24₹214
-23.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.1K
$5.29₹506
-39.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ratlam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,521
$0.66₹62.7
66.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 4,015
$0.49₹46.59
157.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,407
$0.72₹68.8
91.67%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,950
$0.83₹79.3
162.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.3K
$4.71₹450
-4.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.5K
$2.40₹229
141.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.6K
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,405
$2.38₹227
-2.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,397
$0.45₹43.15
135.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,838
$0.95₹90.8
60.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,327
$0.77₹73.8
76.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,599
$0.17₹16.67
564.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,738
$0.22₹20.92
431.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,876
$0.54₹51.9
66.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,861
$0.36₹34.82
150.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,128
$3.41₹326
-34.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.7K
$7.85₹750
54.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,793
$1.54₹148
-22.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,920
$2.24₹214
10.71%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.58₹534
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ratlam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,723
$0.30₹29.04
183.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 132.8K
$8.76₹838
375.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,518
$0.64₹60.9
121.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,223
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 25.2K
$1.47₹140
436.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,160
$1.16₹111
-14.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
$15.2K₹1.5M
15.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
$20.5K₹2.0M
31.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ratlam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 264.9K
$29.64₹2,835
180.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.9K
$3.90₹373
148.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 75.0K
$5.64₹540
317.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ratlam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 80.6K
$5.83₹558
333.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.9K
$6.92₹662
176.01%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.6K
$3.58₹343
10.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ratlam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 1.0M
$62.2₹5,950
407.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 19.1M
$1,118₹106.9K
434.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ratlam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 191.4K
$8.19₹783
632.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 101.5K
$9.38₹897
239.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 324.4K
$17.61₹1,684
477.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 342.8K
$28.77₹2,752
273.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ratlam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$138₹13.2K
243.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$93.5₹8,944
299.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$174₹16.6K
387.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$143₹13.6K
404.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.4M
$2,257₹215.9K
44.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.6M
$684₹65.4K
110.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ratlam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
$388₹37.1K
61.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
9.1
47.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Ratlam: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $138 in Ratlam. 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 61% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $7.00 in Ratlam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $101 – making Ratlam 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 Ratlam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ratlam cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 182%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $533 in Ratlam. 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 Ratlam, 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 Ratlam?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $7.00 in Ratlam. 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 Ratlam?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $356 in Ratlam. 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 Ratlam?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ratlam, where all-in costs run around $356, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Ratlam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Ratlam more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ratlam – 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 Ratlam?
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 Ratlam. 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.