Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ukhta

For one person, living is cheaper in Ukhta: $1,114 a month against $1,625 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $6,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Ukhta
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,114
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Ukhta

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

A single person spends $1,625 per month in Medellin vs $1,114 in Ukhta, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,625
  • Ukhta $1,114

A couple spends around $2,412 per month in Medellin vs $1,675 in Ukhta, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,412
  • Ukhta $1,675

A family of three spends $3,199 per month in Medellin vs $2,236 in Ukhta, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,199
  • Ukhta $2,236

Medellin costs about 46% more than Ukhta, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Ukhta is 18% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ukhta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.30 COP 26.3K
$12.41 ₽1,036
-33.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.91 COP 148.7K
$36.18 ₽3,019
29.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.24 COP 29.3K
$5.77 ₽482
60.14%
Cappuccino
$3.05 COP 9,676
$2.63 ₽219
15.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,707
$1.22 ₽102
47.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,382
$0.63 ₽52.5
119.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 COP 10.3K
$1.91 ₽160
69.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.56 COP 17.6K
$3.03 ₽253
83.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ukhta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 COP 4,760
$1.31 ₽109
14.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.37 COP 7,508
$0.71 ₽59.6
233.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,377
$1.20 ₽100
41.67%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,379
$1.64 ₽137
80.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.22 COP 32.4K
$10.36 ₽864
-1.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.74 COP 30.9K
$5.63 ₽470
73.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.90 COP 44.1K
$13.02 ₽1,086
6.76%
Apples (1kg)
$4.13 COP 13.1K
$1.93 ₽161
113.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,839
$1.94 ₽162
-21.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 COP 7,052
$1.69 ₽141
31.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 COP 7,194
$2.70 ₽226
-15.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 COP 6,311
$0.80 ₽66.9
148.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 COP 5,285
$0.56 ₽46.71
198.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 COP 3,742
$1.45 ₽121
-18.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,919
$0.63 ₽52.5
96.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.87 COP 12.3K
$2.99 ₽250
29.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.78 COP 43.7K
$8.14 ₽680
69.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,256
$0.98 ₽81.4
69.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 COP 7,615
$1.93 ₽161
24.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ukhta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 COP 3,944
$0.59 ₽49.43
110.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.2 COP 248.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,044
$2.33 ₽194
-45.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 COP 6,803
$0.41 ₽34.04
424.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.37 COP 26.5K
$5.13 ₽428
63.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,288
$0.77 ₽64.1
75.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K COP 110.2M
$56.8K ₽4.7M
-38.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 110.0M
$39.6K ₽3.3M
-12.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ukhta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 COP 528.4K
$126 ₽10.5K
32.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.62 COP 43.2K
$6.03 ₽503
125.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.12 COP 92.3K
$8.53 ₽712
241.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ukhta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.09 COP 143.0K
$36.26 ₽3,026
24.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.18 COP 54.5K
$24.65 ₽2,057
-30.30%
Cinema Ticket
$6.97 COP 22.1K
$6.59 ₽550
5.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ukhta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.5M
$367 ₽30.6K
115.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,041 COP 28.7M
$6,377 ₽532.2K
41.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ukhta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.8 COP 278.4K
$82.8 ₽6,909
6.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.2 COP 184.4K
$56.3 ₽4,700
3.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 440.7K
$131 ₽10.9K
5.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.9 COP 313.5K
$117 ₽9,731
-15.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ukhta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$503 ₽42.0K
104.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 COP 2.0M
$359 ₽30.0K
72.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,881 COP 6.0M
$796 ₽66.4K
136.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,008 COP 3.2M
$532 ₽44.4K
89.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,988 COP 12.6M
$2,256 ₽188.3K
76.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,702 COP 5.4M
$1,394 ₽116.3K
22.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ukhta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$663 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
21.45
-49.00%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 19, 2026

Last update for Ukhta: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$619
Ukhta
$359 42% $260
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$298
Ukhta
$213 28.4% $85
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$209
Ukhta
$140 33% $69
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$173
Ukhta
$174 0.8% $1.4
Eating Out
Medellin
$171
Ukhta
$171 0.2% $0.4
Getting Around
Medellin
$95
Ukhta
$6.7 * 92.9% $88
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$59
Ukhta
$49 16.2% $9.6

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,028 in Medellin versus $503 in Ukhta. 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 $47.00 in Medellin versus $36.00 in Ukhta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $213 – making Ukhta the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇷🇺 Ukhta
🕒 Local time
17:14 5:14 PM
01:14 1:14 AM
8 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
98,293
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RUB, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 83.46 RUB (100 RUB = 1.2 USD). 1 EUR = 93.83 RUB (100 RUB = 1.07 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Ukhta 11,180 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Ukhta

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 Ukhta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ukhta cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 46%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,437 per month in Medellin and $1,672 in Ukhta. 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 Ukhta, 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 Ukhta?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Medellin and $36.00 in Ukhta. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Ukhta?
Groceries cost about 40% 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 $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Ukhta?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ukhta, where all-in costs run around $1,114, than in Medellin at $1,625. In Ukhta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Ukhta more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ukhta – 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 Ukhta. 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.

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