😐A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $967 in Yoshkar-Ola, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,418 in Yoshkar-Ola, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,870 in Yoshkar-Ola, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 7% more than Yoshkar-Ola, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Medellin and Yoshkar-Ola are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Yoshkar-Ola28% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Yoshkar-Ola
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$11.57₽909
-46.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$25.60₽2,011
27.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$4.93₽387
48.88%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$1.25₽98.3
37.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$0.72₽56.3
45.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$0.42₽32.86
83.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$1.01₽79.1
67.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$3.22₽253
-1.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Yoshkar-Ola
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.06₽83.1
-0.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$0.58₽45.45
124.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$1.36₽107
2.94%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$1.61₽126
34.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$10.27₽807
-57.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$4.72₽371
24.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$8.84₽695
-2.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$1.72₽135
32.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$1.66₽131
-33.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$1.98₽155
-22.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$2.55₽201
-47.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$0.70₽54.8
61.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$0.68₽53.1
66.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$1.24₽97.4
-31.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.77₽60.2
18.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$2.87₽226
-18.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$9.64₽757
28.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$1.17₽91.6
2.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$2.07₽162
20.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Yoshkar-Ola
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$0.43₽33.67
95.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$1.93₽152
-26.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$0.18₽13.93
966.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$7.46₽586
2.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$0.74₽57.9
33.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$40.9K₽3.2M
-55.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$31.8K₽2.5M
-16.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Yoshkar-Ola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$114₽8,951
-29.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$5.61₽441
77.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$7.37₽579
228.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Yoshkar-Ola
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$36.98₽2,905
-32.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$5.62₽441
-29.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Yoshkar-Ola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$339₽26.7K
-10.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$3,968₽311.8K
52.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Yoshkar-Ola
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$82.8₽6,502
-29.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$77.3₽6,069
-58.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$144₽11.3K
-30.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$111₽8,728
-3.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Yoshkar-Ola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$321₽25.2K
48.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$250₽19.7K
50.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$512₽40.2K
64.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$377₽29.6K
93.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$1,308₽102.8K
145.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$1,242₽97.6K
10.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Yoshkar-Ola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$521₽40.9K
18.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
12.5
7.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Yoshkar-Ola: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $321 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.
💰Salaries run about 18% higher in Medellin, 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 $26.00 in Yoshkar-Ola. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $195 in Yoshkar-Ola – 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 Yoshkar-Ola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yoshkar-Ola cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 7%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,451 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Yoshkar-Ola?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $26.00 in Yoshkar-Ola. 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 Yoshkar-Ola?
Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Yoshkar-Ola?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Yoshkar-Ola, where all-in costs run around $967, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Yoshkar-Ola it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
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.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Yoshkar-Ola?
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 Yoshkar-Ola. 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.