πA single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $907 in Stavropol, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,425 in Stavropol, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,942 in Stavropol, rent included.
πMedellin costs about 12% more than Stavropol, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth Medellin and Stavropol are more affordable than the global median β Medellin24% lower, Stavropol32% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Stavropol
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$11.32β½826
-47.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.4K
$38.30β½2,795
-14.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$7.52β½549
-5.72%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,115
$2.25β½165
-24.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,924
$1.20β½87.9
-8.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,781
$0.52β½38.18
50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,997
$1.30β½95.1
29.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
$2.47β½181
24.29%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Stavropol
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,906
$1.24β½90.3
-12.10%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,508
$0.52β½38.06
142.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,922
$1.15β½83.6
20.00%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,827
$1.51β½110
45.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$7.27β½531
-39.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
$4.60β½336
22.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.8K
$7.54β½551
17.90%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,349
$1.42β½103
64.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,777
$1.94β½142
-45.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,374
$1.60β½117
-6.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,924
$2.63β½192
-47.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,111
$0.77β½55.9
49.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,155
$0.56β½40.63
107.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,182
$1.18β½85.8
-24.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,997
$0.67β½49.03
25.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,145
$3.24β½236
-29.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 38.0K
$7.83β½571
35.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,284
$0.68β½49.68
76.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,824
$0.93β½67.7
165.59%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Stavropol
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,056
$0.53β½38.81
62.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,264
$1.01β½73.7
45.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 7,009
$0.17β½12.23
1052.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
$6.22β½454
24.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,409
$0.77β½56.0
23.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.7M
$25.7Kβ½1.9M
-29.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.6M
$40.1Kβ½2.9M
-33.91%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Stavropol
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.7K
$112β½8,172
-26.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
$6.71β½490
41.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.5K
$5.72β½418
323.60%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Stavropol
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.4K
$50.9β½3,715
-49.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$5.04β½368
-22.02%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Stavropol
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$194β½14.2K
59.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
$3,037β½221.6K
96.45%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Stavropol
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.5K
$87.9β½6,418
-33.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.5K
$48.56β½3,545
-33.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 366.4K
$115β½8,391
-10.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 387.2K
$57.9β½4,228
87.21%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Stavropol
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$341β½24.9K
39.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$252β½18.4K
50.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$583β½42.5K
43.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$460β½33.6K
57.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
$2,328β½169.9K
19.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
$1,533β½111.9K
-20.98%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Stavropol
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
$446β½32.6K
14.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
16.34
-17.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Stavropol: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $341 in Stavropol. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 15% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $38.00 in Stavropol. Groceries tell a different story β $188 in Medellin vs $171 in Stavropol β so Stavropol 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 Stavropol: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stavropol cheaper than Medellin?
Yes β Medellin is pricier by about 12%, 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,360 in Stavropol. 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 Stavropol, 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 Stavropol?
Groceries cost about 10% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Medellin or Stavropol?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Stavropol, where all-in costs run around $907, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Stavropol it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Stavropol more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Stavropol 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 Stavropol?
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 Stavropol. 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.