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: $979 in Abaza versus $1,013 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,497 in Abaza versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,015 in Abaza versus $2,192 in Medellin.

Living in Abaza costs roughly 3% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Abaza 27% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abaza
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.67 ₽705
$5.99 COP 21.4K
61.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.33 ₽2,798
$32.86 COP 117.4K
16.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.78 ₽422
$7.09 COP 25.3K
-18.48%
Cappuccino
$2.37 ₽173
$1.71 COP 6,115
38.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 ₽78.2
$1.10 COP 3,924
-2.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 ₽37.60
$0.78 COP 2,781
-33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.36 ₽99.2
$1.68 COP 5,997
-19.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 ₽187
$3.07 COP 11.0K
-16.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abaza
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.59 ₽42.94
$1.09 COP 3,906
-45.87%
White Bread (500g)
$0.65 ₽47.19
$1.26 COP 4,508
-48.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 ₽104
$1.38 COP 4,922
2.90%
Eggs
$1.80 ₽131
$2.19 COP 7,827
-17.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.92 ₽797
$4.40 COP 15.7K
148.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.80 ₽350
$5.63 COP 20.1K
-14.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.03 ₽659
$8.89 COP 31.8K
1.57%
Apples (1kg)
$1.74 ₽127
$2.34 COP 8,349
-25.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 ₽132
$1.06 COP 3,777
70.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 ₽145
$1.50 COP 5,374
32.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.67 ₽195
$1.38 COP 4,924
93.48%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ₽61.7
$1.15 COP 4,111
-26.09%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 ₽49.54
$1.16 COP 4,155
-41.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.41 ₽103
$0.89 COP 3,182
58.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₽52.4
$0.84 COP 2,997
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.88 ₽210
$2.28 COP 8,145
26.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.26 ₽603
$10.64 COP 38.0K
-22.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 ₽73.2
$1.20 COP 4,284
-16.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 ₽141
$2.47 COP 8,824
-21.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Abaza
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.49 ₽36.09
$0.86 COP 3,056
-43.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.40 COP 147.9K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.94 ₽142
$1.47 COP 5,264
31.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ₽25.70
$1.96 COP 7,009
-82.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.28 ₽458
$7.74 COP 27.6K
-18.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.77 ₽56.5
$0.95 COP 3,409
-18.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K ₽2.5M
$18.1K COP 64.7M
88.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2K ₽2.6M
$26.5K COP 94.6M
36.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abaza
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$110 ₽8,034
$82.3 COP 293.7K
33.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.83 ₽426
$9.50 COP 33.9K
-38.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.93 ₽578
$24.23 COP 86.5K
-67.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abaza
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.16 ₽2,639
$25.89 COP 92.4K
39.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.00 COP 67.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.01 ₽366
$3.93 COP 14.0K
27.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abaza
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$328 ₽23.9K
$309 COP 1.1M
5.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,889 ₽502.8K
$5,965 COP 21.3M
15.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abaza
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.3 ₽5,059
$58.7 COP 209.5K
18.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.60 ₽3,182
$32.35 COP 115.5K
34.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ₽8,260
$103 COP 366.4K
10.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 ₽7,732
$108 COP 387.2K
-2.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abaza
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$438 ₽32.0K
$476 COP 1.7M
-7.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$300 ₽21.9K
$379 COP 1.4M
-20.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$769 ₽56.2K
$838 COP 3.0M
-8.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$514 ₽37.5K
$724 COP 2.6M
-28.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,555 ₽186.5K
$2,791 COP 10.0M
-8.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,719 ₽125.5K
$1,211 COP 4.3M
41.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abaza
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,375 ₽100.4K
$512 COP 1.8M
168.75%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $438 in Abaza and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abaza pays 169% 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 for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $188 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

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 Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Abaza or Medellin?
Abaza pays 169% more on average, 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: $438 in Abaza versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $328 in Abaza versus $309 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 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 Abaza or Medellin?
At $979 in Abaza versus $1,013 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 3% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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