πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,028 in Medellin versus $1,232 in Lyubertsy.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Medellin versus $1,887 in Lyubertsy.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,144 in Medellin versus $2,543 in Lyubertsy.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 17% less than in Lyubertsy, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Lyubertsy8% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Lyubertsy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.00COPΒ 20.6K
$12.85β½931
-53.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.84COPΒ 112.5K
$40.03β½2,901
-17.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.42COPΒ 25.4K
$6.33β½459
17.22%
Cappuccino
$1.65COPΒ 5,659
$2.60β½188
-36.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07COPΒ 3,663
$0.74β½53.7
44.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76COPΒ 2,607
$0.29β½20.85
162.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COPΒ 5,908
$1.37β½99.5
25.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20COPΒ 11.0K
$2.17β½157
47.47%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Lyubertsy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,597
$1.29β½93.2
-18.60%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COPΒ 4,479
$0.77β½55.6
70.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34COPΒ 4,591
$1.66β½120
-19.28%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,521
$1.91β½139
14.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.41COPΒ 15.1K
$13.38β½970
-67.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.69COPΒ 19.5K
$6.07β½440
-6.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.52COPΒ 29.2K
$11.98β½868
-28.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,023
$1.86β½135
25.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COPΒ 3,804
$2.11β½153
-47.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,210
$2.35β½170
-35.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPΒ 4,680
$4.00β½289
-65.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 3,950
$1.02β½74.0
12.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18COPΒ 4,043
$0.81β½58.6
45.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84COPΒ 2,885
$1.63β½118
-48.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86COPΒ 2,931
$0.82β½59.2
4.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26COPΒ 7,753
$3.19β½231
-29.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.60COPΒ 39.8K
$8.85β½641
31.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,109
$1.09β½78.9
10.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COPΒ 8,484
$2.45β½177
1.22%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Lyubertsy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,721
$0.60β½43.17
31.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.83COPΒ 139.9K
$17.03β½1,234
139.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,023
$2.50β½181
-41.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COPΒ 6,568
$0.45β½32.30
326.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.77COPΒ 26.6K
$8.01β½580
-3.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,464
$0.81β½58.9
24.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOPΒ 60.5M
$37.8Kβ½2.7M
-53.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 90.7M
$37.1Kβ½2.7M
-28.68%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Lyubertsy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.1COPΒ 277.9K
$152β½11.0K
-46.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.43COPΒ 32.3K
$7.25β½525
30.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.86COPΒ 81.8K
$7.92β½574
201.26%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Lyubertsy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.99COPΒ 89.1K
$31.21β½2,262
-16.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71COPΒ 64.1K
$25.00β½1,812
-25.16%
Cinema Ticket
$4.09COPΒ 14.0K
$5.76β½417
-28.99%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Lyubertsy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$315COPΒ 1.1M
$690β½50.0K
-54.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,022COPΒ 20.6M
$14.6Kβ½1.1M
-58.78%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Lyubertsy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7COPΒ 204.6K
$89.2β½6,465
-33.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.97COPΒ 109.6K
$53.5β½3,879
-40.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COPΒ 346.9K
$134β½9,689
-24.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105COPΒ 360.3K
$160β½11.6K
-34.46%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Lyubertsy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$485COPΒ 1.7M
$505β½36.6K
-3.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$365COPΒ 1.3M
$404β½29.2K
-9.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$827COPΒ 2.8M
$755β½54.7K
9.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COPΒ 2.5M
$641β½46.4K
13.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,992COPΒ 10.3M
$2,035β½147.4K
47.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,314COPΒ 4.5M
$1,904β½138.0K
-30.98%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Lyubertsy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$551COPΒ 1.9M
$678β½49.1K
-18.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
13.5
-0.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026
Last update for Lyubertsy: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $485 in Medellin and $505 in Lyubertsy. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Lyubertsy pays 23% 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 $40.00 in Lyubertsy for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $242 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 Lyubertsy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and Lyubertsy?
Medellin and Lyubertsy differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($1,028 vs $1,232 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lyubertsy earns 23% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and Lyubertsy?
Rent for a central apartment: $485 in Medellin versus $505 in Lyubertsy. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 27% higher in Lyubertsy. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin β a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $40.00 in Lyubertsy. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,028 in Medellin versus $1,232 in Lyubertsy, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Lyubertsy. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Lyubertsy?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Lyubertsy?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet β expenses run 20% less than in Lyubertsy. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.