πA single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $728 in Cherkasy, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,104 in Cherkasy, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,480 in Cherkasy, rent included.
πMedellin costs about 40% more than Cherkasy, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth Medellin and Cherkasy are more affordable than the global median β Medellin24% lower, Cherkasy46% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Cherkasy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 21.2K
$7.15β΄318
-16.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 118.9K
$25.34β΄1,128
31.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.8K
$6.01β΄267
20.30%
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,811
$1.16β΄51.5
40.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,904
$0.61β΄27.03
78.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,604
$0.35β΄15.78
108.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,197
$1.20β΄53.4
45.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.5K
$1.91β΄84.9
69.11%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Cherkasy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,742
$1.02β΄45.25
2.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,614
$0.66β΄29.31
95.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,718
$1.06β΄47.24
24.53%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 8,101
$1.61β΄71.7
40.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.5K
$9.95β΄443
-56.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 21.0K
$4.08β΄182
44.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.7K
$9.37β΄417
-8.11%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 8,015
$0.77β΄34.10
192.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,814
$1.62β΄72.0
-33.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,438
$1.68β΄74.7
-9.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 5,073
$2.52β΄112
-43.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,173
$0.75β΄33.51
56.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,166
$0.45β΄20.04
160.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,163
$1.62β΄72.2
-45.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,215
$0.44β΄19.41
104.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 8,008
$2.37β΄105
-5.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 39.4K
$3.46β΄154
219.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 4,063
$0.81β΄36.14
40.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,483
$1.67β΄74.3
42.51%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Cherkasy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,979
$0.41β΄18.16
104.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 149.6K
$8.80β΄392
376.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 5,019
$1.67β΄74.5
-15.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,779
$0.18β΄8.22
955.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.6K
$5.74β΄256
35.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,586
$1.35β΄59.9
-25.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 62.7M
$30.0Kβ΄1.3M
-41.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.5M
$27.5Kβ΄1.2M
-3.62%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Cherkasy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 298.4K
$86.3β΄3,841
-3.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.7K
$6.03β΄269
56.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 86.0K
$4.63β΄206
420.73%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Cherkasy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 90.3K
$25.56β΄1,138
-0.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 68.3K
$9.71β΄432
97.12%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.6K
$4.54β΄202
-9.69%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Cherkasy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$222β΄9,886
40.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 21.4M
$3,419β΄152.2K
75.27%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Cherkasy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 207.0K
$63.5β΄2,828
-8.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 116.1K
$30.11β΄1,340
8.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 355.3K
$82.0β΄3,648
21.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 387.1K
$97.3β΄4,333
11.51%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Cherkasy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$263β΄11.7K
83.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$191β΄8,498
98.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 3.0M
$384β΄17.1K
117.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.6M
$282β΄12.5K
156.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 10.1M
$797β΄35.5K
256.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.4M
$694β΄30.9K
76.25%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Cherkasy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
$450β΄20.0K
20.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
15.25
-11.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for Cherkasy: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $263 in Cherkasy. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 20% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $25.00 in Cherkasy. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $168 β making Cherkasy 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 Cherkasy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cherkasy cheaper than Medellin?
Yes β Medellin is pricier by about 40%, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,092 in Cherkasy. 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 Cherkasy, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 377% less in Cherkasy. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Medellin and $222 in Cherkasy. 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 Cherkasy?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cherkasy, where all-in costs run around $728, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Cherkasy it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Cherkasy more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cherkasy 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 Cherkasy?
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 Cherkasy. 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.