😐A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $915 in Kostroma, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $1,420 in Kostroma, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $1,925 in Kostroma, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 87% more than Kostroma, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Kostroma is 33% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kostroma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03COP 25.1K
$17.27₽1,483
-53.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26COP 150.8K
$51.7₽4,438
-6.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77COP 30.5K
$7.13₽612
37.03%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,095
$2.86₽245
1.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94COP 6,074
$1.46₽125
32.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52COP 4,754
$0.66₽56.7
130.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09COP 9,663
$1.72₽148
79.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74COP 17.9K
$2.45₽210
134.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kostroma
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,262
$1.15₽99.1
18.26%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39COP 7,460
$0.55₽47.51
334.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,314
$1.32₽113
28.79%
Eggs
$2.87COP 8,967
$1.21₽104
137.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94COP 31.1K
$4.17₽357
138.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.78COP 33.7K
$3.47₽298
210.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73COP 46.0K
$3.78₽325
289.68%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09COP 12.8K
$0.83₽70.9
392.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57COP 4,911
$1.52₽130
3.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13COP 6,642
$0.93₽80.0
129.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21COP 6,917
$1.34₽115
64.93%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05COP 6,396
$0.74₽63.2
177.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50COP 4,700
$0.42₽36.27
257.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19COP 3,718
$1.02₽87.5
16.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16COP 3,619
$0.65₽55.4
78.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$3.05₽262
27.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.44COP 45.1K
$5.06₽434
185.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58COP 4,948
$1.12₽95.9
41.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83COP 8,836
$1.96₽168
44.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kostroma
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,650
$0.37₽31.54
216.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.7COP 242.9K
$20.39₽1,750
281.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28COP 4,014
$1.37₽118
-6.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09COP 6,537
$0.14₽12.37
1392.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.62COP 26.9K
$7.01₽602
22.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30COP 4,056
$0.76₽65.5
71.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KCOP 86.4M
$23.5K₽2.0M
17.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KCOP 110.9M
$26.4K₽2.3M
34.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kostroma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176COP 550.1K
$125₽10.7K
41.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37COP 41.8K
$6.36₽546
110.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89COP 93.4K
$7.64₽655
291.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kostroma
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.76COP 139.8K
$28.93₽2,483
54.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06COP 53.3K
$17.43₽1,496
-2.12%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20COP 19.4K
$6.96₽598
-10.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kostroma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$793COP 2.5M
$300₽25.8K
164.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,019COP 28.2M
$6,591₽565.6K
36.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kostroma
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6COP 267.5K
$63.6₽5,460
34.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5COP 182.7K
$52.6₽4,516
11.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136COP 425.9K
$106₽9,138
28.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103COP 322.2K
$102₽8,756
1.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kostroma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,060COP 3.3M
$369₽31.6K
187.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680COP 2.1M
$211₽18.1K
222.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012COP 6.3M
$579₽49.7K
247.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,169COP 3.7M
$345₽29.6K
238.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,111COP 12.8M
$1,755₽150.7K
134.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,701COP 5.3M
$856₽73.5K
98.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kostroma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665COP 2.1M
$902₽77.4K
-26.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
20
-45.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Last update for Kostroma: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $369 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 36% higher in Kostroma, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $52.0 in Kostroma. Groceries tell a different story – $303 in Medellin vs $127 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?
Medellin costs about 87% more than Kostroma, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 and in Kostroma?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,574 per month in Medellin and $1,373 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 Kostroma, 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 in Kostroma?
Groceries cost about 140% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Kostroma?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $52.0 in Kostroma. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Kostroma?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kostroma, where all-in costs run around $915, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Kostroma it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin 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. Kostroma costs $915 versus $1,716 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Medellin or to Kostroma?
If budget matters most, go with Kostroma. 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.