Kathmandu vs Medellín — Cost of Living Comparison 2026
Which city is cheaper, safer, and better for remote workers? Here's the data.
NoodlePants Verdict — generated from live data
Kathmandu edges out Medellín on affordability with a Cost of Living index of 26 vs 32.4 (USA=100; very affordable vs very affordable). Medellín scores higher on safety (48/100), and Medellín wins on internet at ~130 Mbps. Overall, Medellín takes the Nomad Score crown with 80/100 — best for budget nomad and latam base.
* Some figures are country averages — full city-level data coming soon.Pro members get neighbourhood-level breakdowns.
Metric
Kathmandu
Medellín
Avg Rent 1BR (city centre)
US$350
US$580
Avg Rent 1BR (outside centre)
US$230
US$360
Cost of Living (USA=100)
26
32
Safety Score
—
48/100
Internet Speed
—
130 Mbps
Nomad Score
—
80/100
Healthcare Score
—
70/100
Digital Nomad Visa
Not available
✓ Available
Who is each city for?
Kathmandu is better for…
See the Nepal country profileMedellín is better for…
Budget nomadLatAm baseSpring climateCommunity
See the Colombia country profileAlso compare
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