Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Astrakhan Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Astrakhan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $252 in Astrakhan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $495 in Astrakhan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $737 in Astrakhan.

Living in Medellin is roughly 567% more expensive than in Astrakhan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Astrakhan is 82% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.0K

$8.69 ₽735

-7.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 149.4K

$41.77 ₽3,529

14.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 30.8K

$5.74 ₽485

72.30%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,767

$1.84 ₽156

70.11%

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

$1.91 COP 5,954

$1.16 ₽97.6

64.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,712

$0.73 ₽61.5

106.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,747

$1.93 ₽163

61.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

$3.45 ₽292

66.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,509

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,759

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,535

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,235

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.6K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 44.6K

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 12.9K

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,019

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,007

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,028

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,375

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,790

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,651

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,077

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,439

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

$0.50 ₽42.56

144.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

$21.65 ₽1,830

271.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,084

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,825

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,260

$0.84 ₽70.6

63.10%

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

$27.8K COP 86.9M

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

$35.8K COP 111.6M

$27.0K ₽2.3M

32.46%

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

$177 COP 553.2K

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

$13.88 COP 43.3K

$4.83 ₽408

187.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 92.8K

$8.05 ₽680

269.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 140.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.7K

$3.00 ₽254

121.67%

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

$813 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 279.3K

$35.28 ₽2,981

153.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 184.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 431.2K

$82.5 ₽6,972

67.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 318.7K

$47.35 ₽4,001

115.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 5.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

-42.42%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Astrakhan: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out at a mid-range restaurant: $48.00 in Medellin vs $42.00 in Astrakhan for two.

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 Astrakhan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin and Astrakhan differ by about 567% in total monthly costs ($1,681 vs $252 including rent). Astrakhan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,521 in Medellin and $378 in Astrakhan 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.

Dining out is cheaper in Astrakhan – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,681 per month in Medellin versus $252 in Astrakhan – a 567% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $252 in Astrakhan versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Astrakhan but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Astrakhan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Astrakhan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 567% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.