πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,030 in Korolyov versus $1,013 in Medellin.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,441 in Korolyov versus $1,602 in Medellin.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,852 in Korolyov versus $2,192 in Medellin.
πLiving in Korolyov is roughly 2% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Korolyov23% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Korolyov
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.93β½652
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
49.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.26β½1,479
$32.86COPΒ 117.4K
-38.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.31β½388
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
-25.11%
Cappuccino
$1.99β½145
$1.71COPΒ 6,115
16.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91β½66.1
$1.10COPΒ 3,924
-17.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36β½26.59
$0.78COPΒ 2,781
-53.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.12β½301
$1.68COPΒ 5,997
145.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86β½136
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
-39.41%
π Groceries & Markets
Korolyov
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13β½82.7
$1.09COPΒ 3,906
3.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.45β½32.59
$1.26COPΒ 4,508
-64.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.30β½94.8
$1.38COPΒ 4,922
-5.80%
Eggs
$1.60β½117
$2.19COPΒ 7,827
-26.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.07β½881
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
174.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.21β½380
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
-7.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.83β½572
$8.89COPΒ 31.8K
-11.92%
Apples(1kg)
$1.88β½137
$2.34COPΒ 8,349
-19.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62β½118
$1.06COPΒ 3,777
52.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27β½166
$1.50COPΒ 5,374
51.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.99β½291
$1.38COPΒ 4,924
189.13%
Potato(1kg)
$0.40β½29.14
$1.15COPΒ 4,111
-65.22%
Onion(1kg)
$0.81β½59.1
$1.16COPΒ 4,155
-30.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.63β½119
$0.89COPΒ 3,182
83.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56β½40.93
$0.84COPΒ 2,997
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.49β½181
$2.28COPΒ 8,145
9.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.17β½815
$10.64COPΒ 38.0K
4.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08β½79.1
$1.20COPΒ 4,284
-10.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48β½108
$2.47COPΒ 8,824
-40.08%
π Getting Around
Korolyov
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.74β½54.0
$0.86COPΒ 3,056
-13.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.25β½1,624
$41.40COPΒ 147.9K
-46.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.48β½181
$1.47COPΒ 5,264
68.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.44β½32.46
$1.96COPΒ 7,009
-77.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.21β½600
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
6.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.75β½54.7
$0.95COPΒ 3,409
-21.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9Kβ½2.8M
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.7M
114.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1Kβ½1.5M
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.6M
-24.13%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Korolyov
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$126β½9,227
$82.3COPΒ 293.7K
53.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.63β½411
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
-40.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.10β½591
$24.23COPΒ 86.5K
-66.57%
π Sport & Entertainment
Korolyov
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.27β½2,356
$25.89COPΒ 92.4K
24.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.22β½1,111
$19.00COPΒ 67.9K
-19.89%
Cinema Ticket
$5.54β½404
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
40.97%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Korolyov
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$712β½51.9K
$309COPΒ 1.1M
129.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6Kβ½1.1M
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
145.38%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Korolyov
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3β½4,183
$58.7COPΒ 209.5K
-2.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.55β½1,865
$32.35COPΒ 115.5K
-21.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$38.45β½2,806
$103COPΒ 366.4K
-62.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.8β½4,147
$108COPΒ 387.2K
-47.60%
π Accommodation & Living
Korolyov
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$466β½34.0K
$476COPΒ 1.7M
-2.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368β½26.8K
$379COPΒ 1.4M
-2.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$702β½51.2K
$838COPΒ 3.0M
-16.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$487β½35.6K
$724COPΒ 2.6M
-32.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,766β½201.9K
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
-0.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,540β½185.4K
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
109.65%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Korolyov
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,114β½81.3K
$512COPΒ 1.8M
117.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15
13.43
11.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Korolyov: May 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $466 in Korolyov and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Korolyov pays 118% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $20.00 in Korolyov vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $208 vs $188, with Medellin 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
Korolyov vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Korolyov or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost β living expenses run 2% lower than in Korolyov. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Korolyov or Medellin?
Korolyov pays 118% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Korolyov vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $466 in Korolyov versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Korolyov vs Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 86% less than in Korolyov. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Korolyov and Medellin?
Childcare runs $712 in Korolyov versus $309 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Korolyov or Medellin?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,030 in Korolyov, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Korolyov. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Korolyov or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $1,013 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Korolyov compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Korolyov and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet β expenses run 2% less than in Korolyov. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.