πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $962 in Kholmsk.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,478 in Kholmsk.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $1,994 in Kholmsk.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 6% more expensive than Kholmsk, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Kholmsk28% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Kholmsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 21.2K
$9.62β½691
-38.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 118.9K
$38.12β½2,741
-12.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.8K
$5.87β½422
23.17%
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,811
$2.35β½169
-30.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,904
$1.11β½80.1
-1.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,604
$0.52β½37.37
40.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,197
$1.43β½103
21.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.5K
$2.49β½179
29.72%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kholmsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,742
$1.16β½83.6
-9.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,614
$0.65β½46.64
98.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,718
$1.36β½97.7
-2.94%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 8,101
$2.12β½152
7.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.5K
$10.80β½777
-59.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 21.0K
$4.83β½347
21.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.7K
$8.84β½636
-2.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 8,015
$1.81β½130
24.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,814
$1.80β½130
-40.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,438
$1.92β½138
-20.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 5,073
$2.80β½201
-49.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,173
$0.79β½56.7
48.10%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,166
$0.66β½47.43
77.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,163
$1.37β½98.2
-35.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,215
$0.71β½51.2
26.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 8,008
$2.97β½214
-24.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 39.4K
$8.62β½620
28.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 4,063
$0.97β½69.7
17.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,483
$1.93β½139
23.32%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Kholmsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,979
$0.53β½37.75
58.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 149.6K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 5,019
$1.87β½134
-24.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,779
$0.35β½25.37
442.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.6K
$6.48β½466
19.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,586
$0.73β½52.8
38.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 62.7M
$34.1Kβ½2.4M
-48.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.5M
$36.2Kβ½2.6M
-26.80%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kholmsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 298.4K
$110β½7,908
-23.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.7K
$5.79β½416
63.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 86.0K
$8.04β½578
199.88%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kholmsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 90.3K
$35.18β½2,530
-28.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 68.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.6K
$5.03β½362
-18.49%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kholmsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$330β½23.7K
-5.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 21.4M
$7,024β½505.1K
-14.68%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kholmsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 207.0K
$70.7β½5,083
-17.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 116.1K
$44.37β½3,190
-26.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 355.3K
$113β½8,089
-11.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 387.1K
$106β½7,604
2.64%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kholmsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$440β½31.7K
9.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$304β½21.9K
24.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 3.0M
$747β½53.7K
12.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.6M
$504β½36.2K
43.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 10.1M
$2,468β½177.4K
15.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.4M
$1,670β½120.1K
-26.77%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kholmsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
18.33
-26.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for Kholmsk: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $440 in Kholmsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $38.00 in Kholmsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $200 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 Kholmsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Kholmsk?
Kholmsk wins on cost β living expenses run 6% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kholmsk the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin vs Kholmsk?
You'd need roughly $1,525 in Medellin and $1,443 in Kholmsk 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs Kholmsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $482 in Medellin versus $440 in Kholmsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or Kholmsk?
Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Kholmsk?
All in, you'll spend $1,017 per month in Medellin versus $962 in Kholmsk β a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or Kholmsk?
At $962 in Kholmsk versus $1,017 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kholmsk but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kholmsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Kholmsk?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kholmsk delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $962 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kholmsk hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kholmsk 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.