🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $3,218 in Ashgabat.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $4,933 in Ashgabat.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $6,648 in Ashgabat.
🙂Living in Medellin costs roughly 68% less than in Ashgabat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Ashgabat is 140% above.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ashgabat
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$35.11TMT 123
-83.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$84.5TMT 296
-61.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$14.26TMT 49.93
-49.51%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$7.09TMT 24.82
-76.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$3.33TMT 11.64
-66.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$0.88TMT 3.09
-18.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$5.29TMT 18.52
-68.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$14.51TMT 50.8
-78.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ashgabat
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$4.79TMT 16.75
-77.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$2.42TMT 8.48
-48.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$7.44TMT 26.03
-81.32%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$6.19TMT 21.68
-63.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$40.14TMT 141
-89.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$18.59TMT 65.1
-68.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$18.74TMT 65.6
-52.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$5.34TMT 18.69
-58.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$8.86TMT 31.01
-87.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$7.48TMT 26.18
-79.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$3.63TMT 12.69
-62.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$2.30TMT 8.05
-50.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$1.80TMT 6.30
-37.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$1.99TMT 6.96
-57.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$1.09TMT 3.81
-16.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$25.64TMT 89.7
-90.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
$41.19TMT 144
-72.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$4.74TMT 16.58
-74.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$2.94TMT 10.28
-19.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ashgabat
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$0.15TMT 0.53
426.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
$8.42TMT 29.47
388.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$2.91TMT 10.20
-50.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$0.82TMT 2.88
132.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$8.62TMT 30.18
-6.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$0.42TMT 1.47
123.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$43.4KTMT 151.8K
-58.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$56.6KTMT 198.2K
-52.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ashgabat
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$574TMT 2,007
-85.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$57.2TMT 200
-83.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$102TMT 355
-76.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ashgabat
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$197TMT 689
-86.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
$43.92TMT 154
-56.65%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$14.21TMT 49.72
-72.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ashgabat
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$22.41TMT 78.4
1267.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$25.7KTMT 90.0K
-76.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ashgabat
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$65.3TMT 228
-11.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$121TMT 422
-73.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$295TMT 1,033
-66.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$184TMT 644
-41.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ashgabat
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$1,132TMT 3,963
-57.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$743TMT 2,599
-50.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$1,760TMT 6,159
-53.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$1,616TMT 5,657
-55.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
$3,496TMT 12.2K
-16.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
$2,865TMT 10.0K
-50.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ashgabat
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
$751TMT 2,629
-27.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
9.5
41.37%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Medellin: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Ashgabat: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $1,132 in Ashgabat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ashgabat pays 38% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $84.0 in Ashgabat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $668 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Medellin vs Ashgabat: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and Ashgabat?
Medellin and Ashgabat differ by about 211% in total monthly costs ($1,034 vs $3,218 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Ashgabat earns 38% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and Ashgabat?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $1,132 in Ashgabat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Ashgabat?
Childcare runs $306 in Medellin versus $22.41 in Ashgabat. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 252% higher in Ashgabat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,034 in Medellin versus $3,218 in Ashgabat, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Ashgabat. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Ashgabat?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Medellin or Ashgabat safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Ashgabat are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Ashgabat?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 211% less than in Ashgabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Medellin vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado