Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Korolyov and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Korolyov: $1,273 a month against $1,614 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $4,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Korolyov
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,273
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Korolyov and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Korolyov and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,273 in Korolyov versus $1,614 in Medellin.

  • Korolyov $1,273
  • Medellin $1,614

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,878 in Korolyov versus $2,402 in Medellin.

  • Korolyov $1,878
  • Medellin $2,402

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,482 in Korolyov versus $3,190 in Medellin.

  • Korolyov $2,482
  • Medellin $3,190

Living in Korolyov costs roughly 21% less than in Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

The two cities straddle the global median: Korolyov is 6% below, Medellin is 20% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Korolyov
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.83 ₽988
$7.93 COP 25.2K
49.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.8 ₽4,909
$46.13 COP 146.3K
27.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.19 ₽600
$9.50 COP 30.1K
-24.32%
Cappuccino
$2.79 ₽233
$3.11 COP 9,866
-10.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 ₽81.6
$1.83 COP 5,800
-46.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 ₽45.70
$1.38 COP 4,360
-60.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.98 ₽82.2
$3.05 COP 9,672
-67.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 ₽117
$5.50 COP 17.4K
-74.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Korolyov
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 ₽100
$1.45 COP 4,600
-17.24%
White Bread (500g)
$0.85 ₽71.0
$2.36 COP 7,496
-63.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 ₽101
$1.68 COP 5,328
-27.98%
Eggs
$1.61 ₽134
$2.86 COP 9,077
-43.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.82 ₽736
$10.19 COP 32.3K
-13.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.85 ₽488
$9.53 COP 30.2K
-38.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.03 ₽1,004
$14.04 COP 44.5K
-14.32%
Apples (1kg)
$1.59 ₽133
$4.07 COP 12.9K
-60.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 ₽123
$1.50 COP 4,742
-2.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.58 ₽132
$2.17 COP 6,891
-27.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.65 ₽304
$2.31 COP 7,310
58.01%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 ₽55.1
$1.93 COP 6,113
-65.80%
Onion (1kg)
$0.37 ₽30.97
$1.64 COP 5,196
-77.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.41 ₽117
$1.13 COP 3,571
24.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 ₽82.4
$1.25 COP 3,954
-20.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.11 ₽176
$3.99 COP 12.6K
-47.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.65 ₽889
$13.35 COP 42.3K
-20.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₽64.3
$1.70 COP 5,384
-54.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 ₽128
$2.37 COP 7,525
-35.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Korolyov
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.00 ₽83.2
$1.21 COP 3,827
-17.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$76.5 COP 242.5K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.53 ₽295
$1.32 COP 4,179
167.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.20 ₽16.55
$2.14 COP 6,774
-90.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.55 ₽296
$8.47 COP 26.8K
-58.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 ₽74.3
$1.30 COP 4,114
-31.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1K ₽3.0M
$28.0K COP 88.7M
28.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K ₽2.3M
$35.4K COP 112.3M
-23.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Korolyov
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ₽10.4K
$172 COP 545.6K
-27.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.66 ₽389
$13.37 COP 42.4K
-65.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.10 ₽676
$28.73 COP 91.1K
-71.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Korolyov
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$143 ₽11.9K
$45.24 COP 143.5K
215.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.04 COP 54.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.47 ₽457
$6.28 COP 19.9K
-12.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Korolyov
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$175 ₽14.6K
$770 COP 2.4M
-77.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,611 ₽301.4K
$9,011 COP 28.6M
-59.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Korolyov
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.4 ₽4,959
$86.4 COP 274.0K
-31.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.74 ₽2,482
$57.1 COP 181.1K
-47.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$143 ₽11.9K
$137 COP 432.9K
4.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 ₽9,821
$97.9 COP 310.4K
20.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Korolyov
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$531 ₽44.3K
$1,055 COP 3.3M
-49.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$440 ₽36.7K
$616 COP 2.0M
-28.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$797 ₽66.5K
$1,892 COP 6.0M
-57.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$541 ₽45.2K
$1,023 COP 3.2M
-47.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,369 ₽197.7K
$4,059 COP 12.9M
-41.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,170 ₽181.1K
$1,678 COP 5.3M
29.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Korolyov
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,195 ₽99.8K
$652 COP 2.1M
83.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
19.56
10.94
78.79%

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

Last update for Korolyov: October 11, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Korolyov
$440
Medellin
$616 40.1% $176
Groceries & Markets
Korolyov
$213
Medellin
$295 38.2% $81
Eating Out
Korolyov
$164
Medellin
$168 3% $4.8
Clothing & Footwear
Korolyov
$157
Medellin
$170 8.1% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Korolyov
$154
Medellin
$58 62.4% $96
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Korolyov
$137
Medellin
$214 56.3% $77
Getting Around
Korolyov
$8.5 *
Medellin
$93 997% $85

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $531 in Korolyov and $1,055 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Korolyov pays 83% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $59.0 in Korolyov vs $46.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $213 vs $295, with Korolyov cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇷🇺 Korolyov
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
12:17 12:17 PM
04:17 4:17 AM
8 h behind Korolyov
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
225,299
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to RUB – Russian Ruble Converter

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 83.46 RUB (100 RUB = 1.2 USD). 1 EUR = 93.83 RUB (100 RUB = 1.07 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Korolyov Medellin 10,840 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Korolyov
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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?
Korolyov wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Korolyov the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Korolyov or in Medellin?
Average pay runs 83% higher in Korolyov, 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 compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $531 in Korolyov versus $1,055 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Korolyov or in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 38% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Korolyov compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,273 per month in Korolyov versus $1,614 in Medellin – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Korolyov or in Medellin?
At $1,273 in Korolyov versus $1,614 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Korolyov but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Korolyov the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Korolyov or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Korolyov delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,273 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Korolyov 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 Korolyov gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Korolyov vs other spots: cost of living compared

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