Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Yoshkar-Ola

For one person, living is cheaper in Yoshkar-Ola: $989 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $7,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Yoshkar-Ola, Russia
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Yoshkar-Ola
🇷🇺 Russia
$989
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Yoshkar-Ola

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 Yoshkar-Ola actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $989 in Yoshkar-Ola, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Yoshkar-Ola $989

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $1,609 in Yoshkar-Ola, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Yoshkar-Ola $1,609

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $2,229 in Yoshkar-Ola, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Yoshkar-Ola $2,229

Medellin costs about 66% more than Yoshkar-Ola, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Yoshkar-Ola is 27% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Yoshkar-Ola
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.4K
$6.07 ₽490
33.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 148.0K
$55.1 ₽4,445
-14.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 29.9K
$4.83 ₽389
96.69%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,485
$1.72 ₽138
75.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,660
$0.79 ₽63.5
127.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,443
$0.27 ₽21.72
422.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 9,990
$0.88 ₽70.6
261.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.1K
$1.67 ₽135
244.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Yoshkar-Ola
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,751
$0.75 ₽60.7
101.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,480
$0.75 ₽60.4
217.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,573
$1.41 ₽114
25.53%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,093
$1.60 ₽129
80.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.1K
$12.01 ₽968
-15.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.1K
$4.98 ₽401
98.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.0K
$13.58 ₽1,095
3.02%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.5K
$1.77 ₽143
124.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,883
$1.70 ₽137
-8.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,867
$1.77 ₽143
23.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,870
$3.61 ₽291
-39.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,174
$0.73 ₽59.1
168.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,000
$0.59 ₽47.87
169.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,604
$1.35 ₽109
-14.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,911
$0.74 ₽60.0
67.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.5K
$3.28 ₽264
20.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.0K
$8.40 ₽677
62.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,221
$1.13 ₽91.0
46.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,103
$2.51 ₽203
-9.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Yoshkar-Ola
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,674
$0.48 ₽38.55
143.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 243.4K
$28.74 ₽2,318
169.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 3,989
$1.42 ₽115
-10.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,442
$0.41 ₽33.16
400.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 26.9K
$7.29 ₽588
17.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,237
$0.87 ₽69.9
55.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 107.2M
$54.7K ₽4.4M
-37.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.1M
$39.8K ₽3.2M
-12.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Yoshkar-Ola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 533.7K
$97.1 ₽7,830
74.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.6K
$7.00 ₽565
93.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.3K
$8.77 ₽708
220.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Yoshkar-Ola
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 137.5K
$33.19 ₽2,677
31.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.1K
$23.24 ₽1,875
-26.03%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.7K
$7.34 ₽592
-5.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Yoshkar-Ola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
$316 ₽25.5K
152.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.7M
$7,210 ₽581.5K
26.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Yoshkar-Ola
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 266.5K
$77.7 ₽6,267
9.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 182.3K
$56.5 ₽4,555
2.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 424.6K
$136 ₽10.9K
-0.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 307.9K
$84.3 ₽6,795
16.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Yoshkar-Ola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$482 ₽38.9K
150.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$321 ₽25.9K
99.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$921 ₽74.3K
120.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$592 ₽47.7K
71.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.1M
$2,472 ₽199.3K
68.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.0M
$1,396 ₽112.6K
36.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Yoshkar-Ola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
20.29
-46.08%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Yoshkar-Ola: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Yoshkar-Ola
$321 49.9% $320
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Yoshkar-Ola
$218 26.6% $79
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Yoshkar-Ola
$113 46.6% $98
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Yoshkar-Ola
$96 43.6% $74
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Yoshkar-Ola
$159 5.7% $9.6
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Yoshkar-Ola
$34 63.5% $59
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Yoshkar-Ola
$48 16.8% $9.7

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $482 in Yoshkar-Ola. 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 in Medellin versus $55 in Yoshkar-Ola. Groceries tell a different story – $297 in Medellin vs $218 in Yoshkar-Ola – so Yoshkar-Ola wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇷🇺 Yoshkar-Ola
🕒 Local time
18:14 6:14 PM
02:14 2:14 AM
8 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
276,155
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RUB, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 3,146 COP (10,000 COP = 3.18 USD). 1 EUR = 3,502 COP (10,000 COP = 2.86 EUR).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 80.65 RUB (100 RUB = 1.24 USD). 1 EUR = 89.78 RUB (100 RUB = 1.11 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Yoshkar-Ola 11,360 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Yoshkar-Ola

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 Yoshkar-Ola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yoshkar-Ola cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 66%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $1,484 in Yoshkar-Ola. 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 Yoshkar-Ola, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Yoshkar-Ola?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $55 in Yoshkar-Ola. 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 Yoshkar-Ola?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,639 in Medellin and $989 in Yoshkar-Ola. That makes Yoshkar-Ola about 40% cheaper.
Is Medellin or Yoshkar-Ola more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Yoshkar-Ola – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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