Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Makhachkala Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Makhachkala

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $979 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,491 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $2,002 in Makhachkala, rent included.

Medellin costs about 3% more than Makhachkala, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Makhachkala are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Makhachkala 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.3K

$15.31 ₽1,125

-60.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 116.9K

$38.77 ₽2,848

-15.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.2K

$5.20 ₽382

36.35%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,093

$3.12 ₽229

-45.19%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,910

$0.84 ₽62.0

30.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,771

$0.35 ₽25.81

122.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,976

$1.36 ₽99.6

23.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$2.50 ₽184

22.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,892

$1.51 ₽111

-27.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,492

$0.60 ₽44.23

110.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,905

$1.38 ₽101

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,799

$1.37 ₽101

59.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$2.97 ₽218

48.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.0K

$4.80 ₽353

17.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.6K

$4.92 ₽361

80.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,319

$1.74 ₽128

34.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,764

$1.75 ₽129

-39.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,355

$2.72 ₽200

-44.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,906

$1.89 ₽139

-26.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,097

$0.88 ₽64.5

30.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,141

$0.49 ₽35.84

136.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,170

$2.36 ₽173

-62.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,986

$0.59 ₽43.05

42.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,116

$3.19 ₽234

-28.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$4.22 ₽310

152.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,268

$1.04 ₽76.4

15.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,793

$1.85 ₽136

33.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,045

$0.43 ₽31.44

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,245

$2.22 ₽163

-33.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,984

$0.21 ₽15.53

833.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.5K

$6.18 ₽454

25.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,397

$0.70 ₽51.3

35.71%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.1K COP 64.5M

$35.3K ₽2.6M

-48.61%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K COP 94.2M

$30.3K ₽2.2M

-12.46%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.3 COP 292.7K

$54.9 ₽4,033

49.82%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.50 COP 33.8K

$6.13 ₽450

54.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.2K

$9.84 ₽723

146.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.1K

$46.58 ₽3,421

-44.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.6K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$5.02 ₽369

-21.71%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$309 COP 1.1M

$166 ₽12.2K

86.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.2M

$7,077 ₽519.9K

-15.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 208.7K

$106 ₽7,777

-44.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.1K

$44.24 ₽3,250

-26.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.1K

$105 ₽7,704

-2.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 385.8K

$145 ₽10.7K

-25.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$501 ₽36.8K

-4.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$305 ₽22.4K

24.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$698 ₽51.2K

20.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$399 ₽29.3K

81.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

$1,789 ₽131.4K

56.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$1,289 ₽94.7K

-5.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$860 ₽63.1K

-40.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

11.33

18.53%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Makhachkala: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $501 in Makhachkala. 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 68% higher in Makhachkala, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $39.00 in Makhachkala. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Medellin vs $157 in Makhachkala – so Makhachkala 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 Makhachkala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,468 in Makhachkala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Makhachkala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $979 in Makhachkala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Medellin and $166 in Makhachkala. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Makhachkala, where all-in costs run around $979, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Makhachkala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Makhachkala – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Makhachkala. 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.