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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $329 per month in Rourkela vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $555 per month in Rourkela vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $781 per month in Rourkela vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Rourkela is about 68% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Rourkela and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Rourkela 75% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rourkela
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.72 ₹166
$6.16 COP 20.1K
-72.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.77 ₹844
$32.60 COP 106.1K
-73.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.51 ₹434
$7.34 COP 23.9K
-38.56%
Cappuccino
$1.51 ₹145
$1.72 COP 5,600
-12.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ₹29.12
$1.05 COP 3,420
-71.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ₹15.11
$0.77 COP 2,515
-79.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 ₹168
$1.69 COP 5,488
2.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 ₹333
$3.17 COP 10.3K
9.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rourkela
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.58 ₹55.6
$1.05 COP 3,423
-44.76%
White Bread (500g)
$0.39 ₹37.94
$1.30 COP 4,236
-70.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.41 ₹39.78
$1.40 COP 4,544
-70.71%
Eggs
$0.91 ₹87.5
$2.16 COP 7,047
-57.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.93 ₹282
$4.39 COP 14.3K
-33.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ₹267
$5.88 COP 19.1K
-52.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$8.64 COP 28.1K
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.77 ₹170
$2.28 COP 7,426
-22.37%
Banana (1kg)
$0.75 ₹72.2
$1.11 COP 3,604
-32.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.67 ₹64.6
$1.53 COP 4,983
-56.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.33 ₹31.98
$1.35 COP 4,410
-75.56%
Potato (1kg)
$0.27 ₹26.20
$1.13 COP 3,674
-76.11%
Onion (1kg)
$0.27 ₹26.27
$1.13 COP 3,692
-76.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.43 ₹41.77
$0.85 COP 2,753
-49.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 ₹34.21
$0.91 COP 2,975
-60.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.18 ₹403
$2.34 COP 7,630
78.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.94 ₹765
$12.37 COP 40.3K
-35.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 ₹202
$1.20 COP 3,909
75.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 ₹294
$2.49 COP 8,104
22.89%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$9.04 ₹871
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Rourkela
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.15 ₹14.14
$0.84 COP 2,728
-82.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.54 ₹823
$40.57 COP 132.1K
-78.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.15 ₹111
$1.42 COP 4,623
-19.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.92 COP 6,235
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.38 ₹229
$7.66 COP 24.9K
-68.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 ₹116
$0.99 COP 3,223
21.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$10.6K ₹1.0M
$18.0K COP 58.7M
-41.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.2K ₹1.7M
$26.6K COP 86.7M
-35.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rourkela
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$26.51 ₹2,552
$80.8 COP 263.1K
-67.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.28 ₹316
$9.95 COP 32.4K
-67.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.68 ₹835
$24.18 COP 78.7K
-64.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rourkela
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.95 ₹1,535
$25.08 COP 81.7K
-36.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.16 ₹689
$19.15 COP 62.3K
-62.61%
Cinema Ticket
$3.54 ₹341
$3.98 COP 13.0K
-11.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rourkela
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$83.3 ₹8,021
$305 COP 993.5K
-72.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,063 ₹198.6K
$6,059 COP 19.7M
-65.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rourkela
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.85 ₹2,489
$58.1 COP 189.2K
-55.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.54 ₹2,844
$32.20 COP 104.8K
-8.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$40.90 ₹3,937
$101 COP 327.9K
-59.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.26 ₹3,106
$108 COP 350.8K
-70.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rourkela
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$123 ₹11.8K
$477 COP 1.6M
-74.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$47.15 ₹4,539
$376 COP 1.2M
-87.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$274 ₹26.4K
$845 COP 2.7M
-67.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$182 ₹17.6K
$730 COP 2.4M
-75.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,079 ₹103.9K
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-66.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$453 ₹43.6K
$1,372 COP 4.5M
-67.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rourkela
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$823 ₹79.3K
$617 COP 2.0M
33.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.33
13.43
-37.97%

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

Last update for Rourkela: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $123 in Rourkela versus $477 in Medellin. 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 33% 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 $9.00 in Rourkela versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $95.0 vs $193 – 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
Rourkela vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Rourkela?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 213%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $493 per month in Rourkela and $1,546 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 Rourkela, 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 Rourkela or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Rourkela 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 Rourkela and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $329 in Rourkela and $1,031 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 living in Rourkela or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Rourkela, where all-in costs run around $329, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Rourkela it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Rourkela or Medellin more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Rourkela 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 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.

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