Cost of Living Comparison Between Abakan and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Abakan and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $964 per month in Abakan vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,453 per month in Abakan vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,941 per month in Abakan vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Abakan is about 5% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Abakan and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Abakan 28% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abakan
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.33 ₽681
$5.99 COP 21.4K
55.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.48 ₽1,422
$32.86 COP 117.4K
-40.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.38 ₽465
$7.09 COP 25.3K
-10.01%
Cappuccino
$2.88 ₽210
$1.71 COP 6,115
68.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 ₽90.9
$1.10 COP 3,924
13.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 ₽27.80
$0.78 COP 2,781
-51.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.22 ₽89.2
$1.68 COP 5,997
-27.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 ₽95.2
$3.07 COP 11.0K
-57.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abakan
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 ₽89.5
$1.09 COP 3,906
12.84%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 ₽51.6
$1.26 COP 4,508
-43.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 ₽101
$1.38 COP 4,922
-
Eggs
$1.88 ₽137
$2.19 COP 7,827
-14.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.91 ₽796
$4.40 COP 15.7K
147.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.84 ₽353
$5.63 COP 20.1K
-14.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.91 ₽651
$8.89 COP 31.8K
0.22%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 ₽133
$2.34 COP 8,349
-22.22%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 ₽159
$1.06 COP 3,777
105.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.91 ₽139
$1.50 COP 5,374
27.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.75 ₽201
$1.38 COP 4,924
99.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 ₽83.7
$1.15 COP 4,111
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.71 ₽52.0
$1.16 COP 4,155
-38.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.34 ₽97.8
$0.89 COP 3,182
50.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₽48.87
$0.84 COP 2,997
-20.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.91 ₽213
$2.28 COP 8,145
27.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.04 ₽587
$10.64 COP 38.0K
-24.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 ₽74.9
$1.20 COP 4,284
-14.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 ₽137
$2.47 COP 8,824
-23.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Abakan
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₽27.24
$0.86 COP 3,056
-56.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.40 COP 147.9K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.25 ₽91.2
$1.47 COP 5,264
-14.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ₽25.71
$1.96 COP 7,009
-82.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.51 ₽475
$7.74 COP 27.6K
-15.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.73 ₽53.2
$0.95 COP 3,409
-23.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K ₽2.5M
$18.1K COP 64.7M
87.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3K ₽2.6M
$26.5K COP 94.6M
33.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abakan
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$110 ₽8,031
$82.3 COP 293.7K
33.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.03 ₽440
$9.50 COP 33.9K
-36.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.88 ₽575
$24.23 COP 86.5K
-67.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abakan
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.86 ₽2,618
$25.89 COP 92.4K
38.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.00 COP 67.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 ₽364
$3.93 COP 14.0K
26.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abakan
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$330 ₽24.1K
$309 COP 1.1M
6.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,013 ₽511.9K
$5,965 COP 21.3M
17.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abakan
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.0 ₽3,649
$58.7 COP 209.5K
-14.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.74 ₽3,630
$32.35 COP 115.5K
53.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 ₽7,322
$103 COP 366.4K
-2.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 ₽7,500
$108 COP 387.2K
-5.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abakan
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$449 ₽32.8K
$476 COP 1.7M
-5.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$308 ₽22.5K
$379 COP 1.4M
-18.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 ₽55.1K
$838 COP 3.0M
-9.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ₽36.7K
$724 COP 2.6M
-30.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,526 ₽184.4K
$2,791 COP 10.0M
-9.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,676 ₽122.3K
$1,211 COP 4.3M
38.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abakan
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$669 ₽48.8K
$512 COP 1.8M
30.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15.33
13.43
14.15%

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

Last update for Abakan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $449 in Abakan 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.

Salaries run about 31% higher in Abakan, 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 $19.00 in Abakan versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $203 in Abakan vs $188 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Abakan vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Abakan?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,446 per month in Abakan 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 Abakan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Abakan vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $964 in Abakan and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $330 per month in Abakan and $309 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Abakan or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Abakan, where all-in costs run around $964, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Abakan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Abakan or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Abakan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Abakan. 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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