Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Murmansk

For one person, living is cheaper in Murmansk: $1,062 a month against $1,692 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $7,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Murmansk, Russia
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Murmansk
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,062
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Murmansk

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 Murmansk actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,692 per month in Medellin vs $1,062 in Murmansk, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,692
  • Murmansk $1,062

A couple spends around $2,471 per month in Medellin vs $1,748 in Murmansk, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,471
  • Murmansk $1,748

A family of three spends $3,249 per month in Medellin vs $2,434 in Murmansk, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,249
  • Murmansk $2,434

Medellin costs about 59% more than Murmansk, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Murmansk is 21% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Murmansk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.34 COP 26.9K
$10.57 ₽860
-21.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.53 COP 150.2K
$40.83 ₽3,319
13.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 COP 30.6K
$6.51 ₽529
45.47%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 10.1K
$2.92 ₽238
7.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 COP 5,702
$1.16 ₽93.9
52.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 4,599
$0.58 ₽46.83
144.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 COP 10.2K
$1.61 ₽131
95.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 COP 18.4K
$3.54 ₽288
61.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Murmansk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 COP 4,948
$1.16 ₽94.0
31.90%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 COP 7,397
$0.79 ₽64.3
189.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 COP 6,279
$1.40 ₽114
38.57%
Eggs
$3.07 COP 9,900
$1.57 ₽128
95.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 COP 32.3K
$11.75 ₽955
-14.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 COP 33.7K
$5.39 ₽438
93.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 COP 45.1K
$12.15 ₽988
14.90%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 COP 13.1K
$1.93 ₽157
109.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,934
$1.74 ₽141
-12.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 COP 6,794
$1.70 ₽138
23.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 COP 7,405
$3.22 ₽262
-28.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 COP 6,810
$0.71 ₽58.1
197.18%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 COP 5,518
$0.68 ₽55.6
151.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,778
$1.21 ₽98.5
-3.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 5,101
$0.67 ₽54.7
135.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 COP 12.6K
$3.44 ₽279
13.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.04 COP 45.3K
$7.95 ₽646
76.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 COP 5,688
$1.12 ₽90.8
57.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 COP 8,756
$1.89 ₽154
43.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Murmansk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,809
$0.63 ₽51.0
87.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.3 COP 246.3K
$31.73 ₽2,580
140.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 COP 5,833
$2.42 ₽197
-25.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,874
$0.31 ₽25.25
587.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.13 COP 26.3K
$6.27 ₽510
29.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 COP 4,117
$0.89 ₽72.4
43.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K COP 111.2M
$53.0K ₽4.3M
-34.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.2M
$40.8K ₽3.3M
-16.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Murmansk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 COP 573.8K
$128 ₽10.4K
38.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.89 COP 44.8K
$6.88 ₽559
101.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.74 COP 99.2K
$8.11 ₽659
279.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Murmansk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.94 COP 135.4K
$35.66 ₽2,899
17.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 COP 54.2K
$28.25 ₽2,297
-40.53%
Cinema Ticket
$7.47 COP 24.1K
$7.34 ₽596
1.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Murmansk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.6M
$310 ₽25.2K
154.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K COP 39.7M
$6,618 ₽538.0K
85.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Murmansk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3 COP 278.7K
$89.1 ₽7,240
-3.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.3 COP 191.3K
$54.0 ₽4,388
9.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 446.6K
$138 ₽11.2K
0.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8 COP 319.0K
$117 ₽9,496
-15.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Murmansk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 COP 4.3M
$449 ₽36.5K
198.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 COP 2.2M
$275 ₽22.4K
142.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,976 COP 6.4M
$934 ₽75.9K
111.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,033 COP 3.3M
$646 ₽52.5K
59.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,098 COP 13.2M
$1,971 ₽160.2K
107.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,940 COP 6.3M
$1,466 ₽119.2K
32.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Murmansk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
21.33
-48.71%

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

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Last update for Murmansk: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$667
Murmansk
$275 58.8% $392
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$307
Murmansk
$215 30.2% $93
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$222
Murmansk
$143 35.7% $79
Eating Out
Medellin
$173
Murmansk
$161 6.6% $11
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$172
Murmansk
$179 3.9% $6.7
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Murmansk
$38 59.1% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Murmansk
$50 11.5% $6.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,341 in Medellin versus $449 in Murmansk. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $41 in Murmansk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 vs $215 – making Murmansk the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇷🇺 Murmansk
🕒 Local time
17:05 5:05 PM
01:05 1:05 AM
8 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
282,851
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RUB, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,610 COP (10,000 COP = 2.77 EUR).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 81.29 RUB (100 RUB = 1.23 USD). 1 EUR = 90.91 RUB (100 RUB = 1.1 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Murmansk 10,090 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Murmansk

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 Murmansk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Murmansk cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 59%, 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 $2,538 per month in Medellin and $1,592 in Murmansk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Murmansk, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $449 there versus $1,341 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Murmansk?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $41 in Murmansk. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Murmansk?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,692 in Medellin and $1,062 in Murmansk. That makes Murmansk about 37% cheaper.
Is $2,000 enough for either Medellin or Murmansk?
$2,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,692 in Medellin and $1,062 in Murmansk, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Medellin or Murmansk more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Murmansk – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Murmansk is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 37% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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