🙂A single person spends $728 per month in Nam Dinh vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,163 per month in Nam Dinh vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,597 per month in Nam Dinh vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Nam Dinh is about 28% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Nam Dinh and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Nam Dinh46% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nam Dinh
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98₫51.9K
$5.99COP 21.4K
-66.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.94₫707.7K
$32.86COP 117.4K
-18.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.66₫122.5K
$7.09COP 25.3K
-34.27%
Cappuccino
$1.88₫49.5K
$1.71COP 6,115
9.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48₫12.7K
$1.10COP 3,924
-56.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27₫7,162
$0.78COP 2,781
-65.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.93₫24.5K
$1.68COP 5,997
-44.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91₫50.1K
$3.07COP 11.0K
-37.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nam Dinh
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43₫37.6K
$1.09COP 3,906
31.19%
White Bread(500g)
$0.91₫24.0K
$1.26COP 4,508
-27.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.91₫24.0K
$1.38COP 4,922
-34.06%
Eggs
$1.55₫40.7K
$2.19COP 7,827
-29.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.91₫234.1K
$4.40COP 15.7K
102.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.72₫97.8K
$5.63COP 20.1K
-33.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.75₫256.2K
$8.89COP 31.8K
9.67%
Apples(1kg)
$3.34₫87.7K
$2.34COP 8,349
42.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07₫28.0K
$1.06COP 3,777
0.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63₫42.8K
$1.50COP 5,374
8.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.12₫29.4K
$1.38COP 4,924
-18.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03₫27.1K
$1.15COP 4,111
-10.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02₫26.7K
$1.16COP 4,155
-12.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.55₫14.6K
$0.89COP 3,182
-38.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56₫14.8K
$0.84COP 2,997
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.38₫36.2K
$2.28COP 8,145
-39.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.35₫350.6K
$10.64COP 38.0K
25.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96₫25.2K
$1.20COP 4,284
-20.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77₫46.5K
$2.47COP 8,824
-28.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Nam Dinh
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34₫9,052
$0.86COP 3,056
-60.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.64₫174.4K
$41.40COP 147.9K
-83.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.80₫21.0K
$1.47COP 5,264
-45.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45₫11.7K
$1.96COP 7,009
-77.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.67₫43.8K
$7.74COP 27.6K
-78.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90₫23.5K
$0.95COP 3,409
-5.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K₫994.3M
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
108.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4K₫824.2M
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
18.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nam Dinh
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.1₫2.1M
$82.3COP 293.7K
-5.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.17₫135.9K
$9.50COP 33.9K
-45.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.62₫226.4K
$24.23COP 86.5K
-64.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nam Dinh
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.58₫567.1K
$25.89COP 92.4K
-16.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.64₫200.8K
$19.00COP 67.9K
-59.79%
Cinema Ticket
$3.85₫101.2K
$3.93COP 14.0K
-2.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nam Dinh
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$270₫7.1M
$309COP 1.1M
-12.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K₫302.9M
$5,965COP 21.3M
93.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nam Dinh
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.36₫1.2M
$58.7COP 209.5K
-24.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.33₫613.0K
$32.35COP 115.5K
-27.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.9₫2.3M
$103COP 366.4K
-13.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.7₫1.9M
$108COP 387.2K
-33.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nam Dinh
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$356₫9.3M
$476COP 1.7M
-25.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$248₫6.5M
$379COP 1.4M
-34.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$678₫17.8M
$838COP 3.0M
-19.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$475₫12.5M
$724COP 2.6M
-34.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,300₫86.7M
$2,791COP 10.0M
18.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,496₫39.3M
$1,211COP 4.3M
23.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nam Dinh
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$512COP 1.8M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.1
13.43
-32.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nam Dinh: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $356 in Nam Dinh versus $476 in Medellin. 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 $27.00 in Nam Dinh versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $192 in Nam Dinh vs $188 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Nam Dinh vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Nam Dinh?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,092 per month in Nam Dinh and $1,519 in Medellin. 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 Nam Dinh, 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 Nam Dinh or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Nam Dinh and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Nam Dinh vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $728 in Nam Dinh and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Nam Dinh or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nam Dinh, where all-in costs run around $728, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Nam Dinh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nam Dinh or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nam Dinh – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Nam Dinh or Medellin?
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 Nam Dinh. 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.