πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $979 in Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $1,447 in Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $1,915 in Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 6% more expensive than Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy27% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COPΒ 21.5K
$11.31β½850
-47.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COPΒ 119.1K
$24.04β½1,806
36.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COPΒ 26.2K
$6.16β½463
16.88%
Cappuccino
$1.70COPΒ 6,186
$1.26β½94.7
34.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,996
$1.12β½84.5
-1.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COPΒ 2,625
$0.46β½34.23
56.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COPΒ 6,067
$0.81β½60.7
106.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COPΒ 11.3K
$1.69β½127
83.43%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COPΒ 3,837
$1.06β½79.9
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COPΒ 4,531
$0.53β½39.87
135.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COPΒ 5,060
$1.15β½86.0
20.87%
Eggs
$2.26COPΒ 8,229
$1.54β½116
46.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COPΒ 15.8K
$9.65β½725
-55.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COPΒ 21.2K
$4.97β½373
17.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COPΒ 32.1K
$7.43β½558
18.84%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COPΒ 8,159
$1.53β½115
46.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COPΒ 3,911
$1.68β½126
-35.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COPΒ 5,563
$1.53β½115
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPΒ 4,987
$2.57β½193
-46.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COPΒ 4,109
$0.71β½53.5
59.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COPΒ 4,067
$0.55β½41.39
103.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COPΒ 3,080
$1.20β½90.1
-29.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COPΒ 3,305
$0.61β½45.92
49.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COPΒ 8,477
$2.39β½180
-2.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COPΒ 40.5K
$6.84β½514
62.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COPΒ 4,342
$0.66β½49.34
80.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COPΒ 8,617
$1.12β½84.2
111.61%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,859
$0.55β½40.97
43.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COPΒ 149.6K
$19.10β½1,435
115.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COPΒ 5,223
$1.95β½146
-26.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COPΒ 6,952
$0.36β½26.69
430.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COPΒ 29.2K
$6.38β½479
25.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COPΒ 3,410
$0.76β½57.5
23.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOPΒ 65.2M
$25.1Kβ½1.9M
-28.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOPΒ 97.4M
$39.1Kβ½2.9M
-31.47%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COPΒ 305.4K
$109β½8,220
-23.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COPΒ 34.9K
$6.42β½483
49.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COPΒ 87.9K
$9.33β½701
158.95%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COPΒ 94.1K
$34.71β½2,608
-25.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COPΒ 69.3K
$12.75β½958
49.33%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COPΒ 14.2K
$5.06β½380
-22.53%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COPΒ 1.1M
$289β½21.7K
6.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COPΒ 21.5M
$8,395β½630.8K
-29.50%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COPΒ 210.6K
$85.0β½6,389
-31.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COPΒ 115.7K
$51.4β½3,864
-38.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COPΒ 363.3K
$81.0β½6,086
23.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COPΒ 389.7K
$112β½8,427
-4.48%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COPΒ 1.8M
$453β½34.0K
7.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COPΒ 1.3M
$303β½22.8K
21.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COPΒ 3.0M
$769β½57.8K
7.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COPΒ 2.6M
$507β½38.1K
41.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COPΒ 10.6M
$707β½53.1K
313.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COPΒ 5.1M
$572β½43.0K
145.82%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COPΒ 2.0M
$654β½49.2K
-16.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
16.34
-17.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $453 in Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy pays 20% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $24.00 in Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $174 per month, with Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy cheaper across the board.
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 Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy cheaper than Medellin?
Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy?
On paper, Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy earns 20% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $453 in Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $306 in Medellin versus $289 in Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy?
At $979 in Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy more family-friendly?
For families, Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy gentler on the wallet β expenses run 6% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.