Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kostroma Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kostroma

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,128 in Kostroma, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,719 in Kostroma, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $2,310 in Kostroma, rent included.

Medellin is about 10% cheaper than Kostroma, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Kostroma are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Kostroma 16% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kostroma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99 COPΒ 21.4K
$12.88 β‚½940
-53.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86 COPΒ 117.4K
$57.5 β‚½4,199
-42.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 COPΒ 25.3K
$6.26 β‚½457
13.26%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COPΒ 6,115
$3.20 β‚½234
-46.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COPΒ 3,924
$1.40 β‚½102
-21.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COPΒ 2,781
$0.67 β‚½48.80
16.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 COPΒ 5,997
$4.40 β‚½321
-61.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 COPΒ 11.0K
$4.43 β‚½323
-30.70%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kostroma
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,906
$1.24 β‚½90.5
-12.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COPΒ 4,508
$0.55 β‚½39.84
129.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,922
$1.58 β‚½115
-12.66%
Eggs
$2.19 COPΒ 7,827
$1.47 β‚½108
48.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 COPΒ 15.7K
$9.22 β‚½673
-52.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 COPΒ 20.1K
$4.54 β‚½331
24.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 COPΒ 31.8K
$9.87 β‚½720
-9.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COPΒ 8,349
$1.48 β‚½108
58.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,777
$1.53 β‚½112
-30.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 COPΒ 5,374
$1.28 β‚½93.3
17.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,924
$2.29 β‚½168
-39.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COPΒ 4,111
$0.99 β‚½72.3
16.16%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COPΒ 4,155
$0.72 β‚½52.4
61.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,182
$1.17 β‚½85.1
-23.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COPΒ 2,997
$0.64 β‚½46.78
31.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COPΒ 8,145
$3.16 β‚½231
-27.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.64 COPΒ 38.0K
$6.28 β‚½459
69.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COPΒ 4,284
$1.07 β‚½78.0
12.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COPΒ 8,824
$2.36 β‚½172
4.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kostroma
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COPΒ 3,056
$0.46 β‚½33.58
86.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.40 COPΒ 147.9K
$21.87 β‚½1,596
89.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COPΒ 5,264
$1.53 β‚½112
-3.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COPΒ 7,009
$0.12 β‚½8.86
1533.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.74 COPΒ 27.6K
$7.52 β‚½549
2.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COPΒ 3,409
$0.79 β‚½57.8
20.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COPΒ 64.7M
$26.0K β‚½1.9M
-30.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 94.6M
$29.5K β‚½2.2M
-10.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kostroma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 COPΒ 293.7K
$149 β‚½10.9K
-44.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50 COPΒ 33.9K
$7.91 β‚½577
20.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23 COPΒ 86.5K
$5.04 β‚½368
380.75%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kostroma
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.89 COPΒ 92.4K
$25.50 β‚½1,862
1.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00 COPΒ 67.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.93 COPΒ 14.0K
$6.49 β‚½474
-39.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kostroma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 COPΒ 1.1M
$703 β‚½51.3K
-55.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,965 COPΒ 21.3M
$14.8K β‚½1.1M
-59.80%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kostroma
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COPΒ 209.5K
$87.5 β‚½6,389
-32.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35 COPΒ 115.5K
$52.5 β‚½3,834
-38.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COPΒ 366.4K
$134 β‚½9,760
-23.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPΒ 387.2K
$164 β‚½12.0K
-33.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kostroma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COPΒ 1.7M
$444 β‚½32.4K
7.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.4M
$301 β‚½22.0K
25.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COPΒ 3.0M
$768 β‚½56.0K
9.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 COPΒ 2.6M
$499 β‚½36.4K
45.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,791 COPΒ 10.0M
$2,088 β‚½152.4K
33.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 COPΒ 4.3M
$1,051 β‚½76.7K
15.29%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kostroma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$512 COPΒ 1.8M
$1,075 β‚½78.5K
-52.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
14.67
-8.45%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kostroma: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $444 in Kostroma. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 110% higher in Kostroma, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $58.0 in Kostroma. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Medellin vs $183 in Kostroma – so Kostroma wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Kostroma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Kostroma?
Kostroma costs about 11% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Kostroma?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,692 in Kostroma. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Kostroma?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or Kostroma?
Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Kostroma – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin vs Kostroma?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $58.0 in Kostroma. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafΓ© pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or Kostroma?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Kostroma at $1,128. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kostroma it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Kostroma?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,013 versus $1,128 in Kostroma. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Medellin or Kostroma?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kostroma makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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