Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ninh Binh and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Ninh Binh: $727 a month against $1,692 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $11,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Ninh Binh, Vietnam
Medellin, Colombia
Ninh Binh
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$727
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ninh Binh and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ninh Binh and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $727 per month in Ninh Binh vs $1,692 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Ninh Binh $727
  • Medellin $1,692

A couple spends around $1,162 per month in Ninh Binh vs $2,471 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Ninh Binh $1,162
  • Medellin $2,471

A family of three spends $1,598 per month in Ninh Binh vs $3,249 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Ninh Binh $1,598
  • Medellin $3,249

Ninh Binh is about 57% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Ninh Binh sits 46% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ninh Binh
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94 ₫50.0K
$8.34 COP 27.0K
-76.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.91 ₫538.6K
$46.53 COP 150.9K
-55.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.66 ₫120.2K
$9.47 COP 30.7K
-50.79%
Cappuccino
$1.71 ₫44.1K
$3.13 COP 10.2K
-45.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ₫13.0K
$1.77 COP 5,728
-71.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ₫7,834
$1.42 COP 4,620
-78.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.97 ₫25.1K
$3.15 COP 10.2K
-69.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 ₫38.6K
$5.70 COP 18.5K
-73.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ninh Binh
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 ₫35.3K
$1.53 COP 4,971
-10.46%
White Bread (500g)
$0.97 ₫24.9K
$2.29 COP 7,431
-57.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.00 ₫25.8K
$1.94 COP 6,308
-48.45%
Eggs
$1.40 ₫36.0K
$3.07 COP 9,945
-54.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.61 ₫299.2K
$9.99 COP 32.4K
16.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.69 ₫94.9K
$10.45 COP 33.9K
-64.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.71 ₫250.2K
$13.96 COP 45.3K
-30.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.70 ₫69.5K
$4.05 COP 13.1K
-33.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 ₫27.4K
$1.53 COP 4,957
-30.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.30 ₫33.6K
$2.10 COP 6,825
-38.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.08 ₫27.9K
$2.29 COP 7,439
-52.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.02 ₫26.3K
$2.11 COP 6,841
-51.66%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 ₫27.2K
$1.71 COP 5,543
-38.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.64 ₫16.6K
$1.17 COP 3,795
-45.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₫12.5K
$1.58 COP 5,125
-68.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.37 ₫35.3K
$3.91 COP 12.7K
-64.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.29 ₫290.9K
$14.04 COP 45.6K
-19.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 ₫19.3K
$1.76 COP 5,714
-57.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₫41.0K
$2.71 COP 8,796
-41.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Ninh Binh
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 ₫8,905
$1.18 COP 3,826
-70.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.51 ₫167.8K
$76.3 COP 247.4K
-91.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.70 ₫18.1K
$1.81 COP 5,860
-61.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.66 ₫16.9K
$2.13 COP 6,906
-69.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.72 ₫70.1K
$8.13 COP 26.4K
-66.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 ₫21.6K
$1.28 COP 4,136
-34.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K ₫892.7M
$34.4K COP 111.7M
0.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8K ₫818.2M
$34.1K COP 110.7M
-6.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ninh Binh
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.4 ₫1.9M
$178 COP 576.4K
-58.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.83 ₫150.1K
$13.89 COP 45.0K
-58.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.89 ₫229.1K
$30.74 COP 99.7K
-71.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ninh Binh
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.02 ₫567.1K
$41.94 COP 136.0K
-47.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.69 ₫198.2K
$16.80 COP 54.5K
-54.23%
Cinema Ticket
$3.13 ₫80.7K
$7.47 COP 24.2K
-58.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ninh Binh
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₫6.8M
$790 COP 2.6M
-66.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ₫295.7M
$12.3K COP 39.9M
-6.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ninh Binh
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.22 ₫1.1M
$86.3 COP 280.0K
-52.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.57 ₫607.3K
$59.3 COP 192.2K
-60.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.6 ₫2.3M
$138 COP 448.7K
-36.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.9 ₫2.0M
$98.8 COP 320.5K
-23.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ninh Binh
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$353 ₫9.1M
$1,341 COP 4.3M
-73.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$245 ₫6.3M
$667 COP 2.2M
-63.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$723 ₫18.6M
$1,976 COP 6.4M
-63.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$528 ₫13.6M
$1,033 COP 3.3M
-48.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,092 ₫53.9M
$4,098 COP 13.3M
-48.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,220 ₫31.4M
$1,940 COP 6.3M
-37.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ninh Binh
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$646 COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.1
10.94
-16.82%

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

Last update for Ninh Binh: November 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ninh Binh
$245
Medellin
$667 172% $422
Groceries & Markets
Ninh Binh
$189
Medellin
$307 62.7% $118
Clothing & Footwear
Ninh Binh
$103
Medellin
$172 67.7% $70
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ninh Binh
$89
Medellin
$222 150% $133
Eating Out
Ninh Binh
$61
Medellin
$173 182% $111
Sport & Entertainment
Ninh Binh
$28
Medellin
$57 101% $29
Getting Around
Ninh Binh
$12
Medellin
$93 687% $82

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $353 in Ninh Binh versus $1,341 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 $21 in Ninh Binh versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $307 – making Ninh Binh the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇻🇳 Ninh Binh
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
05:30 5:30 AM
17:30 5:30 PM
12 h behind Ninh Binh
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
148,406
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to VND – Vietnamese Dong Converter

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 25,761 VND (100,000 VND = 3.88 USD). 1 EUR = 29,000 VND (100,000 VND = 3.45 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 3,243 COP (10,000 COP = 3.08 USD). 1 EUR = 3,651 COP (10,000 COP = 2.74 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ninh Binh Medellin 17,060 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ninh Binh
  • Medellin

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
Ninh Binh vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ninh Binh cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 133%, 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 $1,091 per month in Ninh Binh and $2,538 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 Ninh Binh, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $353 there versus $1,341 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Ninh Binh or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $21 in Ninh Binh and $47 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 Ninh Binh and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $727 in Ninh Binh and $1,692 in Medellin. That makes Ninh Binh about 57% cheaper.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ninh Binh or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ninh Binh, where all-in costs run around $727, than in Medellin at $1,692. In Ninh Binh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ninh Binh or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ninh Binh – 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, Ninh Binh is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 57% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Ninh Binh vs other spots: cost of living compared

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