Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Solan

For one person, living is cheaper in Solan: $366 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $15,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Solan, India
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Solan
🇮🇳 India
$366
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Solan

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 Solan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $366 in Solan, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Solan $366

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $590 in Solan, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Solan $590

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $815 in Solan, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Solan $815

Medellin costs about 348% more than Solan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Solan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.4K
$1.30 ₹124
522.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 148.0K
$15.48 ₹1,474
203.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 29.9K
$3.18 ₹303
198.74%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,485
$1.98 ₹189
52.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,660
$0.34 ₹31.94
429.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,443
$0.12 ₹11.64
1075.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 9,990
$2.07 ₹197
53.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.1K
$2.55 ₹243
125.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Solan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,751
$0.44 ₹41.69
243.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,480
$0.53 ₹50.8
349.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,573
$0.41 ₹38.85
331.71%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,093
$0.74 ₹70.3
290.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.1K
$5.30 ₹505
92.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.1K
$2.33 ₹222
323.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.0K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.5K
$1.86 ₹177
113.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,883
$0.80 ₹75.8
93.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,867
$0.52 ₹49.14
319.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,870
$0.49 ₹46.91
344.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,174
$0.33 ₹31.81
493.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,000
$0.44 ₹41.65
261.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,604
$0.59 ₹56.6
94.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,911
$0.31 ₹29.07
300.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.5K
$2.86 ₹272
38.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.0K
$7.22 ₹687
89.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,221
$1.66 ₹158
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,103
$2.65 ₹252
-14.72%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.50 ₹524
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Solan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,674
$0.21 ₹19.93
457.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 243.4K
$7.93 ₹755
875.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 3,989
$1.03 ₹97.7
23.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,442
$0.27 ₹25.94
659.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 26.9K
$2.12 ₹202
303.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,237
$1.02 ₹97.4
32.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 107.2M
$11.3K ₹1.1M
200.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.1M
$24.5K ₹2.3M
41.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Solan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 533.7K
$38.76 ₹3,690
337.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.6K
$2.67 ₹255
407.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.3K
$7.47 ₹711
275.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Solan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 137.5K
$14.05 ₹1,338
211.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.1K
$6.43 ₹612
167.34%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.7K
$2.05 ₹196
237.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Solan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
$46.15 ₹4,395
1626.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.7M
$1,730 ₹164.7K
426.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Solan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 266.5K
$20.61 ₹1,963
311.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 182.3K
$24.64 ₹2,346
135.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 424.6K
$46.59 ₹4,436
189.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 307.9K
$26.47 ₹2,521
269.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Solan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$106 ₹10.0K
1044.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$76.9 ₹7,324
734.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$289 ₹27.5K
602.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$180 ₹17.1K
462.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.1M
$897 ₹85.4K
365.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.0M
$519 ₹49.4K
268.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Solan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
9.12
19.96%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Solan: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Solan
$77 88% $565
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Solan
$96 67.5% $201
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Solan
$49 76.9% $162
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Solan
$61 64% $109
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Solan
$53 68.5% $116
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Solan
$11 88.1% $82
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Solan
$18 68.4% $39

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $106 in Solan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $15 in Solan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $96 – making Solan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇮🇳 Solan
🕒 Local time
12:43 12:43 PM
23:13 11:13 PM
10 h 30 min ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
39,256
💱 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 Solan 14,960 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Solan

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 Solan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Solan cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 348%, 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 $549 in Solan. 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 Solan, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $106 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Solan?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $15 in Solan. 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 Solan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,639 in Medellin and $366 in Solan. That’s a gap of about 348%.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Solan?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Solan, where all-in costs run around $366, than in Medellin at $1,639. In Solan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Solan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Solan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Solan is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and the 348% gap matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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