Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kurgan

For one person, living is cheaper in Kurgan: $593 a month against $1,614 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $12,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Kurgan
🇷🇺 Russia
$593
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Kurgan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Kurgan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,614 per month in Medellin vs $593 in Kurgan, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,614
  • Kurgan $593

A couple spends around $2,402 per month in Medellin vs $958 in Kurgan, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,402
  • Kurgan $958

A family of three spends $3,190 per month in Medellin vs $1,322 in Kurgan, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,190
  • Kurgan $1,322

Medellin costs about 172% more than Kurgan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Kurgan is 56% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kurgan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.93 COP 25.2K
$8.38 ₽699
-5.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.13 COP 146.3K
$28.46 ₽2,375
62.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$5.46 ₽456
73.99%
Cappuccino
$3.11 COP 9,866
$2.67 ₽223
16.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 COP 5,800
$1.13 ₽94.3
61.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,360
$0.61 ₽51.0
126.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 COP 9,672
$3.51 ₽293
-13.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50 COP 17.4K
$4.85 ₽405
13.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kurgan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 COP 4,600
$1.10 ₽92.2
31.82%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 COP 7,496
$0.79 ₽65.8
198.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 COP 5,328
$1.23 ₽102
36.59%
Eggs
$2.86 COP 9,077
$1.45 ₽121
97.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.3K
$10.58 ₽883
-3.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 COP 30.2K
$4.64 ₽387
105.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 COP 44.5K
$11.53 ₽963
21.77%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 COP 12.9K
$1.92 ₽160
111.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,742
$1.84 ₽154
-18.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 COP 6,891
$2.04 ₽170
6.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 COP 7,310
$2.58 ₽216
-10.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 COP 6,113
$0.80 ₽66.5
141.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 COP 5,196
$0.73 ₽60.6
124.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 COP 3,571
$1.81 ₽151
-37.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,954
$0.56 ₽46.83
123.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 COP 12.6K
$2.88 ₽240
38.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 COP 42.3K
$6.32 ₽528
111.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 COP 5,384
$0.91 ₽76.1
86.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 7,525
$1.77 ₽147
33.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kurgan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 COP 3,827
$0.51 ₽42.23
137.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.5 COP 242.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 COP 4,179
$2.40 ₽200
-45.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 COP 6,774
$0.59 ₽49.05
262.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.47 COP 26.8K
$7.32 ₽611
15.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,114
$0.86 ₽72.0
51.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K COP 88.7M
$35.7K ₽3.0M
-21.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 112.3M
$38.1K ₽3.2M
-7.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kurgan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 COP 545.6K
$93.2 ₽7,778
84.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.4K
$6.63 ₽553
101.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.73 COP 91.1K
$8.70 ₽726
230.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kurgan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.24 COP 143.5K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04 COP 54.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 COP 19.9K
$4.29 ₽358
46.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kurgan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$770 COP 2.4M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,011 COP 28.6M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kurgan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 COP 274.0K
$95.0 ₽7,925
-8.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 COP 181.1K
$29.51 ₽2,463
93.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 432.9K
$87.7 ₽7,321
55.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 310.4K
$53.4 ₽4,456
83.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kurgan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 COP 3.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 COP 2.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 COP 6.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 COP 3.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,059 COP 12.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,678 COP 5.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kurgan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 COP 2.1M
$950 ₽79.3K
-31.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
20.32
-46.16%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Last update for Kurgan: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$616
Kurgan
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$295
Kurgan
$199 32.3% $95
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$214
Kurgan
$109 49.3% $106
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$170
Kurgan
$120 29.7% $51
Eating Out
Medellin
$168
Kurgan
$150 11.1% $19
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Kurgan
$7.4 * 92.1% $86
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Kurgan
$8.6 * 85.2% $49

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 46% higher in Kurgan, 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 $46.00 in Medellin versus $28.00 in Kurgan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $199 – making Kurgan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇷🇺 Kurgan
🕒 Local time
13:28 1:28 PM
23:28 11:28 PM
10 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
309,285
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RUB, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 83.46 RUB (100 RUB = 1.2 USD). 1 EUR = 93.83 RUB (100 RUB = 1.07 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Kurgan 12,270 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Kurgan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kurgan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kurgan cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 172%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,421 per month in Medellin and $890 in Kurgan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Kurgan?
Groceries cost about 48% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Kurgan?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Medellin and $28.00 in Kurgan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Kurgan?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kurgan, where all-in costs run around $593, than in Medellin at $1,614. In Kurgan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Kurgan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kurgan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kurgan. 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.

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