Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Yekaterinburg

For one person, living is cheaper in Yekaterinburg: $1,369 a month against $1,614 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $2,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Yekaterinburg
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,369
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Yekaterinburg

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

A single person spends $1,614 per month in Medellin vs $1,369 in Yekaterinburg, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,614
  • Yekaterinburg $1,369

A couple spends around $2,402 per month in Medellin vs $2,228 in Yekaterinburg, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,402
  • Yekaterinburg $2,228

A family of three spends $3,190 per month in Medellin vs $3,088 in Yekaterinburg, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,190
  • Yekaterinburg $3,088

Medellin costs about 18% more than Yekaterinburg, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Medellin and Yekaterinburg sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Yekaterinburg by 1%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Yekaterinburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.93 COP 25.2K
$12.53 ₽1,046
-36.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.13 COP 146.3K
$53.9 ₽4,498
-14.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$5.82 ₽486
63.23%
Cappuccino
$3.11 COP 9,866
$2.33 ₽195
33.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 COP 5,800
$1.24 ₽104
47.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,360
$0.37 ₽31.27
272.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 COP 9,672
$2.29 ₽191
33.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50 COP 17.4K
$3.06 ₽256
79.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Yekaterinburg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 COP 4,600
$1.14 ₽94.9
27.19%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 COP 7,496
$0.71 ₽59.3
232.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 COP 5,328
$1.19 ₽99.0
41.18%
Eggs
$2.86 COP 9,077
$1.69 ₽141
69.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.3K
$11.11 ₽928
-8.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 COP 30.2K
$5.18 ₽432
83.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 COP 44.5K
$13.43 ₽1,121
4.54%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 COP 12.9K
$2.05 ₽171
98.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,742
$1.74 ₽145
-13.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 COP 6,891
$1.46 ₽122
48.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 COP 7,310
$2.66 ₽222
-13.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 COP 6,113
$0.67 ₽55.8
188.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 COP 5,196
$0.58 ₽48.80
182.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 COP 3,571
$1.49 ₽124
-24.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,954
$0.91 ₽76.1
37.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 COP 12.6K
$3.42 ₽285
16.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 COP 42.3K
$7.29 ₽609
83.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 COP 5,384
$1.43 ₽119
18.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 7,525
$2.51 ₽209
-5.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Yekaterinburg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 COP 3,827
$0.52 ₽43.02
132.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.5 COP 242.5K
$17.69 ₽1,477
332.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 COP 4,179
$4.15 ₽346
-68.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 COP 6,774
$0.19 ₽15.64
1026.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.47 COP 26.8K
$4.21 ₽351
101.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,114
$0.86 ₽71.9
51.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K COP 88.7M
$36.1K ₽3.0M
-22.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 112.3M
$28.5K ₽2.4M
24.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Yekaterinburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 COP 545.6K
$120 ₽10.0K
43.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.4K
$5.81 ₽485
130.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.73 COP 91.1K
$11.93 ₽996
140.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Yekaterinburg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.24 COP 143.5K
$43.24 ₽3,609
4.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04 COP 54.0K
$36.43 ₽3,040
-53.23%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 COP 19.9K
$7.22 ₽603
-13.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Yekaterinburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$770 COP 2.4M
$350 ₽29.2K
120.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,011 COP 28.6M
$3,645 ₽304.2K
147.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Yekaterinburg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 COP 274.0K
$133 ₽11.1K
-35.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 COP 181.1K
$105 ₽8,738
-45.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 432.9K
$237 ₽19.8K
-42.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 310.4K
$170 ₽14.2K
-42.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Yekaterinburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 COP 3.3M
$767 ₽64.0K
37.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 COP 2.0M
$472 ₽39.4K
30.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 COP 6.0M
$1,263 ₽105.4K
49.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 COP 3.2M
$976 ₽81.5K
4.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,059 COP 12.9M
$2,455 ₽204.9K
65.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,678 COP 5.3M
$1,672 ₽139.6K
0.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Yekaterinburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 COP 2.1M
$980 ₽81.8K
-33.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
22.22
-50.77%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Last update for Yekaterinburg: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$616
Yekaterinburg
$472 23.3% $143
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$295
Yekaterinburg
$216 26.7% $79
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$214
Yekaterinburg
$138 35.7% $76
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$170
Yekaterinburg
$290 70.6% $120
Eating Out
Medellin
$168
Yekaterinburg
$170 0.8% $1.4
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Yekaterinburg
$25 73.4% $68
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Yekaterinburg
$58 0.2% $0.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,055 in Medellin versus $767 in Yekaterinburg. 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 50% higher in Yekaterinburg, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Medellin versus $54.0 in Yekaterinburg. Groceries tell a different story – $295 in Medellin vs $216 in Yekaterinburg – so Yekaterinburg wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇷🇺 Yekaterinburg
🕒 Local time
07:44 7:44 AM
17:44 5:44 PM
10 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
1,495,066
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RUB, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 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 18, 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 Yekaterinburg 11,960 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Yekaterinburg

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 Yekaterinburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yekaterinburg cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 18%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,421 per month in Medellin and $2,053 in Yekaterinburg. 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 Yekaterinburg, 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 Yekaterinburg?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Medellin and $54.0 in Yekaterinburg. 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 Yekaterinburg?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,614 in Medellin and $1,369 in Yekaterinburg. That's a gap of about 18%.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Yekaterinburg?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Yekaterinburg, where all-in costs run around $1,369, than in Medellin at $1,614. In Yekaterinburg it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Yekaterinburg more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Yekaterinburg – 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 Yekaterinburg. 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.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?