πA single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $980 in Nizhnevartovsk, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,502 in Nizhnevartovsk, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $2,024 in Nizhnevartovsk, rent included.
πMedellin costs about 4% more than Nizhnevartovsk, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth Medellin and Nizhnevartovsk are more affordable than the global median β Medellin24% lower, Nizhnevartovsk27% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Nizhnevartovsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 21.2K
$9.26β½666
-35.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 118.9K
$37.70β½2,711
-11.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.8K
$5.85β½421
23.59%
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,811
$2.37β½171
-31.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,904
$1.09β½78.2
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,604
$0.51β½36.74
43.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,197
$1.38β½98.9
26.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.5K
$2.48β½178
30.24%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Nizhnevartovsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,742
$1.15β½83.0
-8.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,614
$0.71β½51.2
81.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,718
$1.44β½103
-8.33%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 8,101
$1.74β½125
30.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.5K
$10.86β½781
-59.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 21.0K
$4.80β½345
22.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.7K
$8.88β½639
-3.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 8,015
$1.76β½126
27.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,814
$1.81β½130
-40.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,438
$1.93β½139
-21.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 5,073
$2.71β½195
-47.60%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,173
$0.81β½58.2
44.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,166
$0.72β½51.8
62.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,163
$1.40β½101
-36.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,215
$0.67β½48.02
34.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 8,008
$3.02β½217
-25.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 39.4K
$8.00β½575
38.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 4,063
$1.00β½71.8
14.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,483
$1.91β½138
24.61%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Nizhnevartovsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,979
$0.50β½35.88
68.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 149.6K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 5,019
$1.87β½134
-24.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,779
$0.33β½23.47
475.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.6K
$6.40β½460
21.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,586
$0.77β½55.3
31.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 62.7M
$33.7Kβ½2.4M
-47.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.5M
$35.9Kβ½2.6M
-26.16%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Nizhnevartovsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 298.4K
$108β½7,773
-22.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.7K
$5.90β½424
60.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 86.0K
$7.90β½568
205.19%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Nizhnevartovsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 90.3K
$35.92β½2,583
-29.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 68.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.6K
$5.19β½374
-21.00%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Nizhnevartovsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$325β½23.4K
-4.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 21.4M
$7,081β½509.1K
-15.36%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Nizhnevartovsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 207.0K
$69.0β½4,959
-15.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 116.1K
$45.20β½3,250
-27.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 355.3K
$113β½8,127
-11.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 387.1K
$105β½7,536
3.55%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Nizhnevartovsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$446β½32.0K
8.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$308β½22.1K
23.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 3.0M
$748β½53.8K
11.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.6M
$499β½35.9K
44.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 10.1M
$1,136β½81.6K
150.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.4M
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Nizhnevartovsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
-
-
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 8, 2026
Last update for Nizhnevartovsk: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $446 in Nizhnevartovsk. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $38.00 in Nizhnevartovsk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $198 β making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Nizhnevartovsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nizhnevartovsk cheaper than Medellin?
Yes β Medellin is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,471 in Nizhnevartovsk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nizhnevartovsk, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Nizhnevartovsk?
How do food prices compare in Medellin and Nizhnevartovsk?
Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Medellin β one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Nizhnevartovsk?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nizhnevartovsk, where all-in costs run around $980, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Nizhnevartovsk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Nizhnevartovsk more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nizhnevartovsk β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Nizhnevartovsk?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Nizhnevartovsk. 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.