Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Rourkela Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Rourkela

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $332 in Rourkela, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $560 in Rourkela, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $789 in Rourkela, rent included.

Medellin costs about 205% more than Rourkela, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Rourkela are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Rourkela 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$1.79 ₹171

234.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.2K

$8.86 ₹848

270.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$4.56 ₹436

55.48%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,105

$1.51 ₹145

13.25%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,918

$0.30 ₹28.75

266.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,776

$0.16 ₹14.88

387.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,987

$1.73 ₹166

-2.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$3.33 ₹319

-7.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,899

$0.57 ₹54.3

91.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,500

$0.42 ₹40.62

200.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,914

$0.39 ₹37.03

253.85%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,813

$0.98 ₹93.4

123.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$2.99 ₹286

47.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$2.83 ₹271

98.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.7K

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,334

$1.71 ₹163

36.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,771

$0.71 ₹68.0

49.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,365

$0.72 ₹68.6

108.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,915

$0.33 ₹31.96

318.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,104

$0.27 ₹25.88

325.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,148

$0.25 ₹23.79

364.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,176

$0.47 ₹45.18

89.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,992

$0.32 ₹30.97

162.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,131

$4.15 ₹397

-45.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$7.94 ₹760

34.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,276

$2.16 ₹206

-44.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

$3.08 ₹295

-19.81%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$8.88 ₹849

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

$0.19 ₹18.52

352.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

$8.64 ₹827

379.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,255

$1.19 ₹114

23.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,997

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$2.37 ₹226

226.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,403

$1.17 ₹112

-18.80%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.1K COP 64.6M

$10.3K ₹984.5K

76.23%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K COP 94.4M

$17.6K ₹1.7M

50.34%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.3 COP 293.2K

$26.24 ₹2,511

213.45%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$3.38 ₹324

181.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.4K

$8.97 ₹858

170.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

$15.61 ₹1,494

65.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

$7.17 ₹686

164.99%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$3.53 ₹338

11.33%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$309 COP 1.1M

$85.4 ₹8,175

262.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$2,052 ₹196.4K

190.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.1K

$26.49 ₹2,535

121.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.3K

$29.04 ₹2,779

11.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.7K

$40.34 ₹3,860

154.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 386.5K

$32.38 ₹3,098

234.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$126 ₹12.1K

276.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$46.04 ₹4,406

722.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$278 ₹26.6K

201.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$177 ₹17.0K

308.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

$885 ₹84.7K

215.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$513 ₹49.1K

136.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$844 ₹80.8K

-39.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

8.33

61.22%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Rourkela: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $126 in Rourkela. 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 65% higher in Rourkela, 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 $9.00 in Rourkela. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $96.0 – making Rourkela 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 Rourkela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 205%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $498 in Rourkela. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rourkela, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $9.00 in Rourkela. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $332 in Rourkela. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Rourkela, where all-in costs run around $332, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Rourkela it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Rourkela – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Rourkela. 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.