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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $966 per month in Makhachkala vs $1,014 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,476 per month in Makhachkala vs $1,596 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,987 per month in Makhachkala vs $2,178 in Medellin, rent included.

Makhachkala is about 5% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Makhachkala and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Makhachkala 28% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.62 ₽1,188

$6.14 COP 22.2K

154.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.69 ₽2,943

$33.05 COP 119.3K

17.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.19 ₽395

$7.32 COP 26.4K

-29.10%

Cappuccino

$3.24 ₽246

$1.66 COP 5,987

95.18%

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

$0.84 ₽63.6

$1.10 COP 3,987

-23.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₽26.81

$0.78 COP 2,822

-55.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.37 ₽104

$1.71 COP 6,188

-19.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 ₽195

$3.17 COP 11.5K

-18.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 ₽115

$1.11 COP 4,012

36.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 ₽49.55

$1.31 COP 4,719

-50.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 ₽105

$1.38 COP 4,980

Eggs

$1.38 ₽105

$2.22 COP 8,009

-37.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.99 ₽227

$4.34 COP 15.7K

-31.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 ₽366

$5.80 COP 20.9K

-17.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.05 ₽384

$8.98 COP 32.4K

-43.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 ₽138

$2.26 COP 8,164

-19.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₽134

$1.11 COP 4,023

59.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 ₽213

$1.46 COP 5,284

91.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 ₽145

$1.37 COP 4,929

39.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 ₽62.2

$1.11 COP 4,009

-26.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 ₽36.98

$1.16 COP 4,199

-57.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 ₽189

$0.89 COP 3,211

178.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₽45.39

$0.87 COP 3,124

-31.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ₽245

$2.35 COP 8,495

37.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.61 ₽655

$10.86 COP 39.2K

-20.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ₽76.3

$1.20 COP 4,330

-16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 ₽142

$2.48 COP 8,946

-25.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 ₽32.02

$0.79 COP 2,842

-46.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.77 COP 147.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 ₽170

$1.42 COP 5,137

57.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₽16.69

$1.91 COP 6,900

-88.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.50 ₽494

$7.65 COP 27.6K

-15.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 ₽53.9

$0.97 COP 3,490

-26.80%

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

$35.5K ₽2.7M

$18.1K COP 65.3M

96.10%

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

$30.0K ₽2.3M

$26.3K COP 95.0M

13.92%

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

$54.3 ₽4,130

$81.3 COP 293.5K

-33.22%

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

$6.32 ₽481

$9.63 COP 34.8K

-34.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.94 ₽756

$24.36 COP 88.0K

-59.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.60 ₽3,620

$26.02 COP 93.9K

82.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.92 COP 68.3K

Cinema Ticket

$5.02 ₽382

$3.89 COP 14.0K

29.05%

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

$169 ₽12.9K

$304 COP 1.1M

-44.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,894 ₽524.3K

$5,902 COP 21.3M

16.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 ₽7,818

$58.7 COP 211.8K

75.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.15 ₽3,358

$32.48 COP 117.2K

35.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 ₽7,877

$102 COP 367.3K

1.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 ₽11.1K

$108 COP 390.4K

34.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$498 ₽37.9K

$474 COP 1.7M

5.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$304 ₽23.1K

$371 COP 1.3M

-17.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$700 ₽53.2K

$848 COP 3.1M

-17.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 ₽31.3K

$716 COP 2.6M

-42.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,683 ₽128.0K

$2,871 COP 10.4M

-41.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,217 ₽92.6K

$1,375 COP 5.0M

-11.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$621 ₽47.3K

$542 COP 2.0M

14.74%

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $498 in Makhachkala versus $474 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 15% 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 $39 in Makhachkala versus $33 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $168 in Makhachkala vs $190 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 5%, 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 $1,448 per month in Makhachkala and $1,522 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 $966 in Makhachkala and $1,014 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $169 per month in Makhachkala and $304 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 $966, than in Medellin at $1,014. 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.