Cost of Living Comparison Between Makhachkala and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Makhachkala and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $958 per month in Makhachkala vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,485 per month in Makhachkala vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,011 per month in Makhachkala vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Makhachkala is about 7% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Makhachkala and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Makhachkala 28% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.57 ₽1,223

$6.16 COP 20.1K

152.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.54 ₽3,107

$32.60 COP 106.1K

21.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.20 ₽409

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-29.16%

Cappuccino

$3.30 ₽259

$1.72 COP 5,599

91.86%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₽62.6

$1.05 COP 3,420

-23.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₽27.76

$0.77 COP 2,515

-54.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.42 ₽112

$1.69 COP 5,487

-15.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 ₽196

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-21.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 ₽118

$1.05 COP 3,423

42.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 ₽51.2

$1.30 COP 4,236

-50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.43 ₽112

$1.40 COP 4,544

2.14%

Eggs

$1.37 ₽108

$2.16 COP 7,046

-36.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.09 ₽243

$4.39 COP 14.3K

-29.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 ₽372

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-19.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.00 ₽393

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-42.13%

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 ₽142

$2.28 COP 7,425

-20.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ₽132

$1.11 COP 3,603

51.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.75 ₽216

$1.53 COP 4,982

79.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₽143

$1.35 COP 4,410

34.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.83 ₽65.2

$1.13 COP 3,674

-26.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 ₽35.16

$1.13 COP 3,692

-60.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 ₽191

$0.85 COP 2,753

185.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₽45.63

$0.91 COP 2,975

-36.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.14 ₽247

$2.34 COP 7,629

34.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.82 ₽300

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-69.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₽81.4

$1.20 COP 3,909

-13.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ₽153

$2.49 COP 8,104

-21.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ₽31.36

$0.84 COP 2,727

-52.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ₽176

$1.42 COP 4,623

57.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.18 ₽14.02

$1.92 COP 6,235

-90.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.51 ₽511

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-15.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 ₽55.8

$0.99 COP 3,223

-28.28%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.0K ₽2.8M

$18.0K COP 58.7M

99.93%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.0K ₽2.4M

$26.6K COP 86.7M

16.26%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$54.2 ₽4,257

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-32.95%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.31 ₽496

$9.95 COP 32.4K

-36.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.63 ₽757

$24.18 COP 78.7K

-60.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.00 ₽3,613

$25.08 COP 81.6K

83.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$5.09 ₽400

$3.98 COP 13.0K

27.89%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$164 ₽12.9K

$305 COP 993.4K

-46.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,965 ₽547.2K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

14.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₽8,179

$58.1 COP 189.2K

79.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.22 ₽3,552

$32.20 COP 104.8K

40.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 ₽8,209

$101 COP 327.9K

3.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 ₽11.3K

$108 COP 350.8K

33.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 ₽39.0K

$477 COP 1.6M

4.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ₽23.4K

$376 COP 1.2M

-20.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$720 ₽56.6K

$845 COP 2.7M

-14.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$402 ₽31.6K

$730 COP 2.4M

-44.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,666 ₽130.9K

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-48.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,210 ₽95.1K

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-11.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$830 ₽65.2K

$617 COP 2.0M

34.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.33

13.43

-15.64%

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

Last update for Makhachkala: July 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $497 in Makhachkala versus $477 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 35% higher in Makhachkala, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Makhachkala versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $157 in Makhachkala vs $193 in Medellin – so Makhachkala 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

Makhachkala vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,437 per month in Makhachkala and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Makhachkala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $958 in Makhachkala and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $164 per month in Makhachkala and $305 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Makhachkala, where all-in costs run around $958, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Makhachkala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Makhachkala – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Makhachkala. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.