Cost of Living Comparison Between Abaza and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Abaza and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $948 in Abaza versus $1,031 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,487 in Abaza versus $1,599 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,025 in Abaza versus $2,167 in Medellin.

Living in Abaza costs roughly 8% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Abaza 29% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abaza
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.37 ₽735
$6.16 COP 20.1K
52.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.11 ₽2,992
$32.60 COP 106.1K
16.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.88 ₽462
$7.34 COP 23.9K
-19.89%
Cappuccino
$2.38 ₽187
$1.72 COP 5,600
38.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 ₽84.8
$1.05 COP 3,420
2.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 ₽40.66
$0.77 COP 2,515
-32.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.40 ₽110
$1.69 COP 5,488
-17.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 ₽202
$3.17 COP 10.3K
-18.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abaza
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.59 ₽46.51
$1.05 COP 3,423
-43.81%
White Bread (500g)
$0.67 ₽52.4
$1.30 COP 4,236
-48.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.41 ₽111
$1.40 COP 4,544
0.71%
Eggs
$1.71 ₽134
$2.16 COP 7,047
-20.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.88 ₽854
$4.39 COP 14.3K
147.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.72 ₽371
$5.88 COP 19.1K
-19.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.93 ₽701
$8.64 COP 28.1K
3.36%
Apples (1kg)
$1.81 ₽142
$2.28 COP 7,426
-20.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 ₽141
$1.11 COP 3,604
62.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 ₽156
$1.53 COP 4,983
30.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.69 ₽211
$1.35 COP 4,410
99.26%
Potato (1kg)
$0.80 ₽63.1
$1.13 COP 3,674
-29.20%
Onion (1kg)
$0.66 ₽51.9
$1.13 COP 3,692
-41.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 ₽110
$0.85 COP 2,753
64.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₽55.7
$0.91 COP 2,975
-21.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.91 ₽229
$2.34 COP 7,630
24.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.70 ₽526
$12.37 COP 40.3K
-45.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 ₽79.3
$1.20 COP 3,909
-15.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 ₽146
$2.49 COP 8,104
-25.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Abaza
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.50 ₽38.90
$0.84 COP 2,728
-40.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$40.57 COP 132.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.95 ₽153
$1.42 COP 4,623
37.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ₽25.66
$1.92 COP 6,235
-82.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.54 ₽513
$7.66 COP 24.9K
-14.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.74 ₽57.9
$0.99 COP 3,223
-25.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K ₽2.7M
$18.0K COP 58.7M
89.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K ₽2.7M
$26.6K COP 86.7M
31.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abaza
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$109 ₽8,592
$80.8 COP 263.1K
35.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.04 ₽474
$9.95 COP 32.4K
-39.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.93 ₽623
$24.18 COP 78.7K
-67.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abaza
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.00 ₽2,825
$25.08 COP 81.7K
43.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.15 COP 62.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.99 ₽391
$3.98 COP 13.0K
25.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abaza
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$322 ₽25.3K
$305 COP 993.5K
5.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,104 ₽557.6K
$6,059 COP 19.7M
17.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abaza
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.7 ₽5,472
$58.1 COP 189.2K
19.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.35 ₽3,481
$32.20 COP 104.8K
37.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ₽8,834
$101 COP 327.9K
11.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₽8,364
$108 COP 350.8K
-1.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abaza
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$441 ₽34.6K
$477 COP 1.6M
-7.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$304 ₽23.9K
$376 COP 1.2M
-19.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$777 ₽61.0K
$845 COP 2.7M
-8.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$499 ₽39.2K
$730 COP 2.4M
-31.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,349 ₽184.3K
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-26.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,587 ₽124.6K
$1,372 COP 4.5M
15.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abaza
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,292 ₽101.4K
$617 COP 2.0M
109.44%
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 Abaza: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $441 in Abaza and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abaza pays 109% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $38.00 in Abaza vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $189 vs $193, with Abaza cheaper for home cooking.

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
Abaza vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Abaza?
Abaza is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Abaza or Medellin?
Average pay runs 109% higher in Abaza, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Abaza and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $441 in Abaza versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $322 in Abaza versus $305 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Abaza or in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Abaza – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Abaza or in Medellin?
At $948 in Abaza versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Abaza but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Abaza the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Abaza or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Abaza is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Abaza gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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