πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,052 in Khimki.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,580 in Khimki.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $2,109 in Khimki.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 4% less than in Khimki, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Khimki21% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Khimki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$6.40β½472
-6.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.2K
$37.52β½2,768
-12.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$5.72β½422
23.95%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,105
$1.98β½146
-13.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,918
$1.12β½82.5
-1.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,776
$0.37β½26.95
110.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,987
$3.13β½231
-46.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 10.9K
$1.48β½109
107.43%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Khimki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,899
$1.11β½81.9
-1.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,500
$0.67β½49.37
88.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,914
$1.42β½105
-2.82%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,813
$1.71β½126
28.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$12.75β½941
-65.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
$4.93β½364
14.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.7K
$11.29β½833
-21.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,334
$1.98β½146
18.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,771
$1.05β½77.3
0.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,365
$1.93β½143
-22.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,915
$2.80β½207
-50.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,104
$0.79β½58.5
45.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,148
$0.72β½53.2
61.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,176
$1.35β½99.9
-34.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,992
$0.67β½49.78
25.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,131
$2.50β½185
-8.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 37.9K
$6.30β½465
68.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,276
$0.99β½73.1
21.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,809
$1.85β½136
33.51%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Khimki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,051
$0.52β½38.40
65.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.6K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,255
$1.85β½136
-20.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 6,997
$0.33β½24.34
493.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
$6.25β½461
23.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,403
$0.78β½57.2
21.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.6M
$34.1Kβ½2.5M
-46.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.4M
$35.0Kβ½2.6M
-24.27%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Khimki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.2K
$196β½14.5K
-58.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
$8.42β½621
12.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.4K
$6.08β½449
298.52%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Khimki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.3K
$24.96β½1,842
3.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$6.51β½481
-39.63%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Khimki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$637β½47.0K
-51.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
$7,077β½522.2K
-15.72%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Khimki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.1K
$114β½8,401
-48.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.3K
$37.86β½2,794
-14.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 365.7K
$151β½11.2K
-32.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 386.5K
$87.2β½6,438
24.29%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Khimki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$453β½33.4K
5.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$310β½22.8K
22.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$767β½56.6K
9.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$509β½37.5K
42.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 9.9M
$2,818β½208.0K
-0.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
$2,642β½195.0K
-54.15%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Khimki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
$1,381β½101.9K
-62.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
11.5
16.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Khimki: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $453 in Khimki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Khimki pays 170% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $38.00 in Khimki for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $204 per month, with Medellin 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 Khimki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Khimki?
Medellin wins on cost β living expenses run 4% lower than in Khimki. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or Khimki?
On paper, Khimki earns 170% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs Khimki?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $453 in Khimki. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or Khimki?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Khimki. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Khimki?
All in, you'll spend $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $1,052 in Khimki β a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or Khimki?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,052 in Khimki, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Khimki. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Khimki?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $1,013 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet β expenses run 4% less than in Khimki. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.