Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tomsk Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tomsk

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,008 in Tomsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,575 in Tomsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,142 in Tomsk, rent included.

Medellin is about 1% cheaper than Tomsk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Tomsk are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Tomsk 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Tomsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91 COP 18.6K
$6.42 ₽511
-7.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 COP 103.8K
$31.90 ₽2,539
3.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 23.4K
$5.81 ₽462
27.88%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,207
$2.24 ₽178
-26.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,468
$1.00 ₽79.7
10.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,458
$0.42 ₽33.80
85.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,412
$1.25 ₽99.6
37.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$3.12 ₽248
1.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Tomsk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COP 3,474
$1.11 ₽88.3
-0.90%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 3,962
$0.57 ₽45.73
121.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,349
$1.92 ₽153
-28.13%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 6,858
$1.74 ₽138
25.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 COP 14.1K
$10.85 ₽863
-58.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.79 COP 18.2K
$5.70 ₽454
1.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 28.2K
$8.63 ₽687
3.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 COP 7,308
$1.95 ₽155
18.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,352
$1.98 ₽158
-46.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,774
$2.16 ₽172
-29.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,270
$3.71 ₽296
-63.34%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,552
$0.65 ₽51.8
73.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,689
$0.53 ₽42.36
120.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,838
$1.00 ₽79.6
-10.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,823
$0.62 ₽49.57
45.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 COP 7,034
$2.52 ₽201
-11.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 COP 38.2K
$7.24 ₽576
67.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 3,743
$0.85 ₽67.3
40.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 7,815
$1.80 ₽143
37.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Tomsk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 COP 2,687
$0.39 ₽31.14
117.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.62 COP 131.0K
$26.41 ₽2,102
57.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,459
$1.63 ₽130
-12.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 6,141
$0.23 ₽18.27
747.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 24.8K
$6.04 ₽480
30.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,118
$0.73 ₽58.3
35.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 55.4M
$30.5K ₽2.4M
-42.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 84.4M
$40.9K ₽3.3M
-34.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Tomsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 261.4K
$113 ₽8,974
-26.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 COP 30.5K
$5.09 ₽405
90.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 COP 74.1K
$7.92 ₽631
196.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Tomsk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.26 COP 79.5K
$62.2 ₽4,950
-59.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 COP 60.1K
$25.62 ₽2,039
-25.45%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 12.4K
$5.66 ₽450
-30.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Tomsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COP 994.2K
$77.5 ₽6,168
307.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,975 COP 18.8M
$4,447 ₽353.9K
34.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Tomsk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 188.9K
$76.4 ₽6,081
-21.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 100.2K
$34.28 ₽2,729
-7.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 320.1K
$132 ₽10.5K
-22.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 338.3K
$184 ₽14.7K
-41.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Tomsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.5M
$448 ₽35.6K
6.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 COP 1.2M
$282 ₽22.4K
32.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 COP 2.7M
$744 ₽59.2K
14.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 COP 2.3M
$517 ₽41.2K
39.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,265 COP 10.3M
$2,322 ₽184.8K
40.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 COP 4.5M
$1,501 ₽119.4K
-4.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Tomsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$624 COP 2.0M
$918 ₽73.0K
-31.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
22.08
-39.18%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Tomsk: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $448 in Tomsk. 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 47% higher in Tomsk, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $32.00 in Tomsk. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $204 in Tomsk – so Medellin 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 Tomsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tomsk cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Tomsk is pricier by about 1%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,512 in Tomsk. 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 Medellin, 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 in Tomsk?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $32.00 in Tomsk. 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 Tomsk?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $1,008 in Tomsk. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Tomsk?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Tomsk at $1,008. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tomsk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Tomsk more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – 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 Tomsk?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
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, Tomsk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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