🇹🇭 Bangkok vs 🇨🇴 Medellin
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Medellin is 16% cheaper than Bangkok
Quick answer
Comparing Bangkok, Thailand and Medellin, Colombia: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $1,240 in Bangkok versus $1,040 in Medellin. Medellin is roughly 16% cheaper overall. Central 1-bed rent: $655/mo (Bangkok) vs $617/mo (Medellin). The totals use the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Key facts
- Moderate budget: $1,240/mo in Bangkok single person — city-centre rent + modeled non-housing categories.
- Moderate budget: $1,040/mo in Medellin single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $655/mo in Bangkok · $617/mo in Medellin.
- Cheaper overall: Medellin ~16% cheaper than Bangkok.
- Source World Bank ICP + national statistics + item-level price snapshots · CC BY 4.0.
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Lifestyle | 🇹🇭 Bangkok | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $850/mo | $750/mo | -12% |
| Moderate | $1,240/mo | $1,040/mo | -16% |
| Comfortable | $1,850/mo | $1,550/mo | -16% |
The Moderate row equals the category table below: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending. Budget and Comfortable scale that same basket.
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | 🇹🇭 Bangkok | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $655/mo | $617/mo | -6% |
| Groceries & Food | $180/mo | $130/mo | -28% |
| Dining Out | $90/mo | $65/mo | -28% |
| Transport | $90/mo | $65/mo | -28% |
| Utilities & Internet | $90/mo | $65/mo | -28% |
| Healthcare | $72/mo | $52/mo | -28% |
| Leisure & Personal | $63/mo | $46/mo | -27% |
Category sum = Moderate budget. Basis: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Detailed Price Comparison
Sources: NSO (Thailand), World Bank / DANE (Colombia), World Bank. Updated Jan 2026.
Groceries
| Item | 🇹🇭 Bangkok | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaf of bread (500g) | $2 | $1 | -33% |
| Milk (1 liter) | $2 | $1 | -47% |
| Eggs (12) | $2 | $2 | -6% |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $3 | $3 | -9% |
| Rice (1 kg) | $1 | $1 | -27% |
| Apples (1 kg) | $4 | $3 | -40% |
| Tomatoes (1 kg) | $2 | $1 | -50% |
| Cheese, imported (1 kg) | $11 | $5 | -56% |
Restaurants & Cafes
| Item | 🇹🇭 Bangkok | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Street food meal | $2 | $4 | +112% |
| Mid-range restaurant (2 people) | $28 | $5 | -81% |
| Fast food combo meal | $5 | $2 | -65% |
| Cappuccino | $3 | $2 | -24% |
| Beer (0.5L, restaurant) | $3 | $1 | -76% |
| Beer (0.5L, store) | $2 | $1 | -20% |
Housing
| Item | 🇹🇭 Bangkok | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, center | $655 | $617 | -6% |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside | $320 | $510 | +59% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, center | $1,100 | $1,000 | -9% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside | $600 | $550 | -8% |
Transport
| Item | 🇹🇭 Bangkok | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly transit pass (BTS/MRT) | $38 | $22 | -42% |
| Taxi start | $1 | $1 | 0% |
| Taxi per km | $0 | $0 | +106% |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $1 | $1 | -41% |
Utilities & Internet
| Item | 🇹🇭 Bangkok | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity, water, garbage (85m²) | $100 | $65 | -35% |
| Internet (60+ Mbps) | $20 | $20 | 0% |
| Mobile plan (10GB+) | $12 | $10 | -17% |
Clothing
| Item | 🇹🇭 Bangkok | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pair of jeans (Levi's) | $55 | $45 | -18% |
| Summer dress (Zara/H&M) | $28 | $65 | +132% |
Leisure & Fitness
| Item | 🇹🇭 Bangkok | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym membership (monthly) | $35 | $25 | -29% |
| Cinema ticket | $6 | $4 | -36% |
Personal Care
| Item | 🇹🇭 Bangkok | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haircut (men) | $6 | $5 | -14% |
Quick Facts
🇹🇭 Bangkok
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $1,240
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $655/mo
- Cappuccino
- $2.80
- Inexpensive meal
- $3.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $32
- Internet speed
- 210 Mbps
- Safety index
- 62/100(moderately safe)
- Healthcare index
- 71/100
- Country
- Thailand
🇨🇴 Medellin
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $1,040
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $617/mo
- Cappuccino
- $1.80
- Inexpensive meal
- $4.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $28
- Internet speed
- 85 Mbps
- Safety index
- 52/100(moderately safe)
- Healthcare index
- 75/100
- Country
- Colombia
Explore more: Bangkok city guide | Medellin city guide | Thailand | Colombia