πA single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $957 in Apatity, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,493 in Apatity, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $2,028 in Apatity, rent included.
πMedellin costs about 6% more than Apatity, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth Medellin and Apatity are more affordable than the global median β Medellin24% lower, Apatity29% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Apatity
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$9.93β½724
-39.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.4K
$38.37β½2,801
-14.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$5.61β½409
26.38%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,115
$2.33β½170
-26.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,924
$1.23β½90.0
-10.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,781
$0.40β½29.05
95.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,997
$1.36β½99.3
23.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
$2.60β½190
18.08%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Apatity
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,906
$1.11β½81.2
-1.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,508
$0.66β½47.88
90.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,922
$1.39β½101
-0.72%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,827
$1.79β½130
22.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$10.89β½795
-59.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
$4.83β½352
16.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.8K
$8.63β½630
3.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,349
$1.82β½133
28.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,777
$1.80β½131
-41.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,374
$1.97β½144
-23.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,924
$2.78β½203
-50.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,111
$0.85β½61.9
35.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,155
$0.70β½51.3
65.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,182
$1.41β½103
-36.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,997
$0.66β½48.33
27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,145
$2.92β½213
-21.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 38.0K
$7.33β½535
45.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,284
$0.95β½69.7
26.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,824
$1.86β½136
32.80%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Apatity
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,056
$0.50β½36.40
72.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,264
$1.93β½141
-23.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 7,009
$0.33β½23.72
493.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
$6.52β½476
18.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,409
$0.71β½52.1
33.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.7M
$33.9Kβ½2.5M
-46.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.6M
$35.1Kβ½2.6M
-24.56%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Apatity
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.7K
$111β½8,088
-25.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
$5.93β½433
60.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.5K
$7.79β½568
211.04%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Apatity
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.4K
$35.64β½2,602
-27.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$5.00β½365
-21.40%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Apatity
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$324β½23.7K
-4.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
$7,095β½517.9K
-15.93%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Apatity
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.5K
$69.4β½5,064
-15.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.5K
$44.79β½3,269
-27.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 366.4K
$113β½8,245
-9.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 387.2K
$107β½7,807
1.38%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Apatity
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$446β½32.6K
6.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$309β½22.6K
22.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$757β½55.3K
10.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$513β½37.4K
41.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
$2,580β½188.3K
8.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
$1,826β½133.3K
-33.65%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Apatity
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
-
-
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Apatity: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $446 in Apatity. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $38.00 in Apatity. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $195 β making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Apatity: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Apatity cheaper than Medellin?
Yes β Medellin is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,436 in Apatity. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Apatity, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Apatity?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $957 in Apatity. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Medellin and $324 in Apatity. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Apatity?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Apatity, where all-in costs run around $957, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Apatity it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Apatity more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Apatity β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Apatity?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Apatity. 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.