πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $828 in Almetyevsk.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $1,293 in Almetyevsk.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $1,757 in Almetyevsk.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 25% more expensive than Almetyevsk, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Almetyevsk38% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Almetyevsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COPΒ 21.4K
$4.99β½375
18.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COPΒ 118.2K
$50.0β½3,757
-34.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COPΒ 26.0K
$5.79β½435
24.35%
Cappuccino
$1.70COPΒ 6,140
$1.24β½93.1
37.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,966
$1.01β½75.9
8.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COPΒ 2,605
$0.64β½48.41
12.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COPΒ 6,022
$1.13β½84.8
47.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COPΒ 11.2K
$2.49β½187
24.50%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Almetyevsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COPΒ 3,809
$0.88β½66.1
20.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COPΒ 4,497
$0.60β½45.00
108.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COPΒ 5,022
$1.24β½93.1
12.10%
Eggs
$2.26COPΒ 8,168
$1.33β½100
69.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COPΒ 15.6K
$5.60β½420
-22.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COPΒ 21.1K
$3.15β½237
85.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COPΒ 31.9K
$6.40β½481
37.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COPΒ 8,099
$1.50β½113
49.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COPΒ 3,882
$1.53β½115
-29.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COPΒ 5,522
$2.09β½157
-26.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPΒ 4,950
$1.51β½114
-9.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COPΒ 4,078
$0.68β½50.9
66.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COPΒ 4,036
$0.50β½37.57
124.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COPΒ 3,057
$1.10β½83.0
-22.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COPΒ 3,281
$0.61β½45.59
49.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COPΒ 8,414
$2.98β½224
-21.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COPΒ 40.2K
$6.18β½464
80.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COPΒ 4,309
$0.94β½70.7
26.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COPΒ 8,553
$2.27β½171
4.41%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Almetyevsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,838
$0.44β½32.78
79.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COPΒ 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COPΒ 5,184
$1.29β½96.7
11.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COPΒ 6,901
$0.36β½26.75
430.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COPΒ 28.9K
$3.75β½282
113.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COPΒ 3,385
$0.70β½52.8
34.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOPΒ 64.7M
$49.4Kβ½3.7M
-63.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOPΒ 96.7M
$43.3Kβ½3.3M
-38.16%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Almetyevsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COPΒ 303.1K
$118β½8,844
-28.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COPΒ 34.7K
$6.47β½486
48.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COPΒ 87.2K
$8.34β½626
189.69%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Almetyevsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COPΒ 93.4K
$25.81β½1,938
0.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COPΒ 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COPΒ 14.1K
$4.18β½314
-6.22%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Almetyevsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COPΒ 1.1M
$314β½23.6K
-2.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COPΒ 21.4M
$6,060β½455.1K
-2.33%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Almetyevsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COPΒ 209.1K
$97.6β½7,329
-40.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COPΒ 114.9K
$47.02β½3,532
-32.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COPΒ 360.6K
$51.5β½3,864
94.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COPΒ 386.8K
$75.5β½5,670
41.91%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Almetyevsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COPΒ 1.8M
$257β½19.3K
89.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COPΒ 1.3M
$300β½22.5K
22.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COPΒ 3.0M
$761β½57.1K
8.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COPΒ 2.6M
$507β½38.1K
41.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COPΒ 10.6M
$1,908β½143.3K
53.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COPΒ 5.1M
$1,599β½120.1K
-12.04%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Almetyevsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COPΒ 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
15.33
-12.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Almetyevsk: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $257 in Almetyevsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $50.0 in Almetyevsk. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $146, with Almetyevsk cheaper for home cooking.
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 Almetyevsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Almetyevsk?
Almetyevsk wins on cost β living expenses run 25% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Almetyevsk the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin vs Almetyevsk?
You'd need roughly $1,550 in Medellin and $1,243 in Almetyevsk to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs Almetyevsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $257 in Almetyevsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or Almetyevsk?
Supermarket bills run roughly 30% 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 Medellin compared to Almetyevsk?
All in, you'll spend $1,034 per month in Medellin versus $828 in Almetyevsk β a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or Almetyevsk?
At $828 in Almetyevsk versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Almetyevsk but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Almetyevsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Almetyevsk?
Both work as nomad bases, but Almetyevsk delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $828 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Almetyevsk hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Almetyevsk?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Almetyevsk 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 Almetyevsk gentler on the wallet β expenses run 25% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.