Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Abakan Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Abakan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $964 in Abakan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,453 in Abakan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,941 in Abakan, rent included.

Medellin costs about 5% more than Abakan, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Abakan are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Abakan 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$9.33 ₽681

-35.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$19.48 ₽1,422

68.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$6.38 ₽465

11.13%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$2.88 ₽210

-40.63%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$1.25 ₽90.9

-12.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$0.38 ₽27.80

105.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$1.22 ₽89.2

37.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$1.30 ₽95.2

136.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.23 ₽89.5

-11.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$0.71 ₽51.6

77.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.38 ₽101

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$1.88 ₽137

16.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$10.91 ₽796

-59.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$4.84 ₽353

16.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$8.91 ₽651

-0.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$1.82 ₽133

28.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$2.18 ₽159

-51.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$1.91 ₽139

-21.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$2.75 ₽201

-49.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$1.15 ₽83.7

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$0.71 ₽52.0

63.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$1.34 ₽97.8

-33.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.67 ₽48.87

25.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$2.91 ₽213

-21.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$8.04 ₽587

32.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$1.03 ₽74.9

16.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$1.88 ₽137

31.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$0.37 ₽27.24

132.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$1.25 ₽91.2

17.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$0.35 ₽25.71

460.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$6.51 ₽475

18.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$0.73 ₽53.2

30.14%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$33.9K ₽2.5M

-46.59%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$35.3K ₽2.6M

-24.98%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$110 ₽8,031

-25.25%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$6.03 ₽440

57.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$7.88 ₽575

207.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$35.86 ₽2,618

-27.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$4.98 ₽364

-21.08%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$330 ₽24.1K

-6.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$7,013 ₽511.9K

-14.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$50.0 ₽3,649

17.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$49.74 ₽3,630

-34.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$100 ₽7,322

2.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$103 ₽7,500

5.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$449 ₽32.8K

6.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$308 ₽22.5K

22.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$756 ₽55.1K

10.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$503 ₽36.7K

43.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$2,526 ₽184.4K

10.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$1,676 ₽122.3K

-27.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$669 ₽48.8K

-23.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

15.33

-12.39%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Abakan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $449 in Abakan. 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 31% higher in Abakan, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $19.00 in Abakan. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Medellin vs $203 in Abakan – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Medellin vs Abakan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,446 in Abakan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Abakan, 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 $1,013 in Medellin and $964 in Abakan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Medellin and $330 in Abakan. 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 Abakan, where all-in costs run around $964, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Abakan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Abakan – 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 Abakan. 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.