Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Biysk Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Biysk

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $978 in Biysk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,481 in Biysk, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,984 in Biysk, rent included.

Medellin costs about 6% more than Biysk, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Biysk are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Biysk 27% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Biysk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.4K
$9.66 ₽726
-38.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COP 118.2K
$37.55 ₽2,820
-12.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COP 26.0K
$5.78 ₽434
24.57%
Cappuccino
$1.70 COP 6,140
$2.36 ₽177
-27.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,966
$1.08 ₽81.1
1.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,605
$0.52 ₽39.07
38.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COP 6,022
$1.38 ₽104
21.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COP 11.2K
$2.48 ₽187
25.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Biysk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,809
$1.15 ₽86.1
-7.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 4,497
$0.66 ₽49.83
89.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COP 5,022
$1.39 ₽104
-
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,168
$1.76 ₽132
28.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 15.6K
$10.71 ₽805
-59.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COP 21.1K
$4.83 ₽363
20.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COP 31.9K
$8.61 ₽647
2.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,099
$1.76 ₽132
27.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,882
$1.89 ₽142
-42.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,522
$1.96 ₽148
-21.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,950
$2.81 ₽211
-51.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,078
$0.86 ₽64.5
31.40%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,036
$0.70 ₽52.9
60.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,057
$1.36 ₽102
-37.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 3,281
$0.66 ₽49.76
37.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 8,414
$2.86 ₽215
-18.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COP 40.2K
$12.10 ₽909
-8.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 4,309
$0.93 ₽70.1
27.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 8,553
$1.92 ₽144
23.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Biysk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,838
$0.52 ₽39.37
51.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COP 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,184
$1.92 ₽144
-25.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,901
$0.22 ₽16.46
768.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COP 28.9K
$6.21 ₽466
29.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,385
$0.72 ₽53.7
30.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 64.7M
$34.8K ₽2.6M
-48.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 96.7M
$35.0K ₽2.6M
-23.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Biysk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COP 303.1K
$111 ₽8,329
-24.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COP 34.7K
$5.88 ₽442
63.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COP 87.2K
$7.78 ₽584
210.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Biysk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COP 93.4K
$35.16 ₽2,641
-26.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COP 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.1K
$4.99 ₽375
-21.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Biysk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.1M
$325 ₽24.4K
-5.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COP 21.4M
$7,036 ₽528.4K
-15.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Biysk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 209.1K
$69.0 ₽5,182
-16.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 114.9K
$44.05 ₽3,308
-27.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COP 360.6K
$113 ₽8,450
-11.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 386.8K
$108 ₽8,106
-0.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Biysk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COP 1.8M
$436 ₽32.8K
11.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.3M
$307 ₽23.0K
19.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COP 3.0M
$756 ₽56.8K
9.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$511 ₽38.4K
40.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COP 10.6M
$2,053 ₽154.2K
42.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COP 5.1M
$1,685 ₽126.6K
-16.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Biysk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
13
3.31%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Biysk: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $436 in Biysk. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $38.00 in Biysk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $205 – 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 Biysk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Biysk?
Medellin costs about 6% more than Biysk, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin vs Biysk?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,466 in Biysk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Biysk?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Biysk, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin vs Biysk?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $38.00 in Biysk. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or Biysk?
Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or Biysk?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Biysk, where all-in costs run around $978, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Biysk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Biysk?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Biysk costs $978 versus $1,034 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Medellin compared to Biysk?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Medellin or Biysk?
If budget matters most, go with Biysk. 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.

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