πA single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $1,051 in Polevskoy, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,601 in Polevskoy, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $2,151 in Polevskoy, rent included.
πMedellin is about 3% cheaper than Polevskoy, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth Medellin and Polevskoy are more affordable than the global median β Medellin24% lower, Polevskoy22% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Polevskoy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 21.2K
$6.26β½450
-4.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 118.9K
$44.85β½3,225
-25.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.8K
$5.57β½400
29.80%
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,811
$2.31β½166
-29.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,904
$1.23β½88.6
-11.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,604
$0.36β½25.99
102.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,197
$0.85β½61.2
104.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.5K
$1.95β½140
65.64%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Polevskoy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,742
$1.17β½83.9
-10.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,614
$0.69β½49.38
86.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,718
$1.44β½104
-8.33%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 8,101
$1.80β½129
26.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.5K
$10.28β½739
-57.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 21.0K
$7.15β½514
-17.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.7K
$11.57β½832
-25.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 8,015
$1.86β½134
20.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,814
$1.99β½143
-46.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,438
$2.08β½149
-26.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 5,073
$3.57β½257
-60.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,173
$1.12β½80.2
4.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,166
$0.80β½57.8
46.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,163
$0.54β½38.87
64.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,215
$0.57β½41.08
57.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 8,008
$2.47β½178
-8.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 39.4K
$5.55β½399
98.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 4,063
$0.90β½64.6
26.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,483
$1.74β½125
36.78%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Polevskoy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,979
$0.53β½38.01
58.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 149.6K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 5,019
$1.88β½135
-25.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,779
$0.33β½23.48
475.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.6K
$5.34β½384
45.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,586
$0.78β½55.8
29.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 62.7M
$61.9Kβ½4.5M
-71.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.5M
$31.5Kβ½2.3M
-15.81%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Polevskoy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 298.4K
$141β½10.1K
-40.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.7K
$9.55β½687
-1.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 86.0K
$7.66β½551
214.75%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Polevskoy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 90.3K
$35.84β½2,577
-29.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 68.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.6K
$5.74β½413
-28.57%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Polevskoy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$441β½31.7K
-29.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 21.4M
$4,464β½320.9K
34.27%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Polevskoy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 207.0K
$48.08β½3,457
20.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 116.1K
$43.62β½3,136
-25.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 355.3K
$165β½11.9K
-39.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 387.1K
$185β½13.3K
-41.48%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Polevskoy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$451β½32.4K
7.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$300β½21.6K
26.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 3.0M
$775β½55.7K
8.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.6M
$501β½36.0K
44.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 10.1M
$2,278β½163.8K
24.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.4M
$1,520β½109.3K
-19.54%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Polevskoy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
14.06
-4.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for Polevskoy: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $451 in Polevskoy. 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 $45.00 in Polevskoy. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $213 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 Polevskoy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Polevskoy cheaper than Medellin?
Yes β Polevskoy is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,577 in Polevskoy. 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 Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and Polevskoy?
Groceries cost about 12% more in Polevskoy, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Polevskoy?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Polevskoy at $1,051. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Polevskoy it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Polevskoy more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin β 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Polevskoy makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.