😐A single person spends $1,128 per month in Kostroma vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,719 per month in Kostroma vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,310 per month in Kostroma vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Kostroma costs about 11% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Kostroma and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Kostroma16% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kostroma
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.88₽940
$5.99COP 21.4K
115.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.5₽4,199
$32.86COP 117.4K
75.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.26₽457
$7.09COP 25.3K
-11.71%
Cappuccino
$3.20₽234
$1.71COP 6,115
87.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40₽102
$1.10COP 3,924
27.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67₽48.80
$0.78COP 2,781
-14.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.40₽321
$1.68COP 5,997
161.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43₽323
$3.07COP 11.0K
44.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kostroma
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24₽90.5
$1.09COP 3,906
13.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55₽39.84
$1.26COP 4,508
-56.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58₽115
$1.38COP 4,922
14.49%
Eggs
$1.47₽108
$2.19COP 7,827
-32.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.22₽673
$4.40COP 15.7K
109.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.54₽331
$5.63COP 20.1K
-19.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.87₽720
$8.89COP 31.8K
11.02%
Apples(1kg)
$1.48₽108
$2.34COP 8,349
-36.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53₽112
$1.06COP 3,777
44.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.28₽93.3
$1.50COP 5,374
-14.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.29₽168
$1.38COP 4,924
65.94%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99₽72.3
$1.15COP 4,111
-13.91%
Onion(1kg)
$0.72₽52.4
$1.16COP 4,155
-37.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17₽85.1
$0.89COP 3,182
31.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64₽46.78
$0.84COP 2,997
-23.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.16₽231
$2.28COP 8,145
38.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.28₽459
$10.64COP 38.0K
-40.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07₽78.0
$1.20COP 4,284
-10.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36₽172
$2.47COP 8,824
-4.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Kostroma
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.46₽33.58
$0.86COP 3,056
-46.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.87₽1,596
$41.40COP 147.9K
-47.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.53₽112
$1.47COP 5,264
4.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.12₽8.86
$1.96COP 7,009
-93.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.52₽549
$7.74COP 27.6K
-2.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79₽57.8
$0.95COP 3,409
-16.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K₽1.9M
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
43.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5K₽2.2M
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
11.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kostroma
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$149₽10.9K
$82.3COP 293.7K
80.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.91₽577
$9.50COP 33.9K
-16.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.04₽368
$24.23COP 86.5K
-79.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kostroma
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.50₽1,862
$25.89COP 92.4K
-1.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.00COP 67.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.49₽474
$3.93COP 14.0K
65.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kostroma
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703₽51.3K
$309COP 1.1M
127.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K₽1.1M
$5,965COP 21.3M
148.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kostroma
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.5₽6,389
$58.7COP 209.5K
49.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5₽3,834
$32.35COP 115.5K
62.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$134₽9,760
$103COP 366.4K
30.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$164₽12.0K
$108COP 387.2K
51.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kostroma
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$444₽32.4K
$476COP 1.7M
-6.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$301₽22.0K
$379COP 1.4M
-20.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$768₽56.0K
$838COP 3.0M
-8.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$499₽36.4K
$724COP 2.6M
-31.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,088₽152.4K
$2,791COP 10.0M
-25.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,051₽76.7K
$1,211COP 4.3M
-13.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kostroma
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,075₽78.5K
$512COP 1.8M
110.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.67
13.43
9.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kostroma: May 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $444 in Kostroma 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 110% higher in Kostroma, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Kostroma versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $183 in Kostroma vs $188 in Medellin – so Kostroma 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
Kostroma vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kostroma or Medellin?
Kostroma costs about 11% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kostroma vs Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,692 per month in Kostroma and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kostroma or Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Kostroma or Medellin?
Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Kostroma – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Kostroma vs Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Kostroma and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Kostroma or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Kostroma at $1,128. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kostroma it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kostroma or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,013 versus $1,128 in Kostroma. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Kostroma or Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kostroma makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.