Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Thimphu Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Thimphu

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 46.7% more expensive than Thimphu without rent, and 124.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 62.1% more expensive than Thimphu without rent, and 108.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Thimphu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COP 22.7K
$2.92 BTN 269
106.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 124.8K
$17.17 BTN 1,581
93.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COP 27.4K
$3.42 BTN 315
113.16%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 6,133
$1.47 BTN 135
10.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,947
$0.52 BTN 47.77
101.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,899
$0.17 BTN 15.45
352.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COP 6,510
$2.96 BTN 272
-41.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 12.0K
$2.29 BTN 211
38.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Thimphu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COP 4,015
$0.86 BTN 79.3
24.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,935
$0.89 BTN 81.9
47.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 5,195
$0.68 BTN 62.7
102.94%
Eggs
$2.25 COP 8,457
$1.98 BTN 183
13.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COP 16.9K
$3.23 BTN 297
38.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COP 21.6K
$3.81 BTN 351
50.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COP 33.3K
$4.24 BTN 390
108.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,438
$2.53 BTN 233
-11.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,988
$1.45 BTN 134
-26.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,697
$1.93 BTN 178
-21.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 5,119
$0.78 BTN 72.0
74.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,218
$0.49 BTN 44.80
128.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,400
$0.62 BTN 57.0
88.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 3,395
$0.45 BTN 41.77
100.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,150
$0.34 BTN 31.47
147.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 8,501
$3.68 BTN 339
-38.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COP 37.5K
$3.33 BTN 307
199.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,451
$0.63 BTN 57.8
87.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COP 8,993
$1.02 BTN 94.0
134.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Thimphu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,233
$1.79 BTN 164
-51.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COP 156.0K
$4.01 BTN 370
933.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,521
$0.85 BTN 78.6
72.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 7,323
$2.25 BTN 208
-13.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COP 29.2K
$0.15 BTN 13.90
5073.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,640
$0.95 BTN 87.3
2.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 67.5M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COP 100.6M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Thimphu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 305.2K
$23.34 BTN 2,150
247.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COP 35.4K
$37.08 BTN 3,415
-74.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COP 88.8K
$26.64 BTN 2,454
-11.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Thimphu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COP 96.1K
$48.13 BTN 4,434
-46.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COP 72.6K
$7.66 BTN 705
151.83%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COP 15.4K
$3.55 BTN 327
15.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Thimphu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.2M
$246 BTN 22.7K
24.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COP 22.2M
$678 BTN 62.4K
770.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Thimphu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COP 225.1K
$9.23 BTN 850
548.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COP 120.3K
$11.44 BTN 1,054
179.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 386.5K
$32.53 BTN 2,997
215.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 405.9K
$32.25 BTN 2,971
234.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Thimphu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COP 1.8M
$115 BTN 10.6K
321.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COP 1.4M
$62.4 BTN 5,747
504.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COP 3.1M
$200 BTN 18.4K
311.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COP 2.7M
$139 BTN 12.8K
416.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 COP 10.5M
$643 BTN 59.2K
333.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,320 COP 5.0M
$261 BTN 24.1K
405.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Thimphu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$538 COP 2.0M
$517 BTN 47.6K
3.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
10.75
24.93%

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

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

Last update for Thimphu: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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