Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Zlatoust

For one person, living is cheaper in Zlatoust: $1,137 a month against $1,692 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Zlatoust, Russia
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Zlatoust
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,137
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Zlatoust

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

A single person spends $1,692 per month in Medellin vs $1,137 in Zlatoust, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,692
  • Zlatoust $1,137

A couple spends around $2,471 per month in Medellin vs $1,783 in Zlatoust, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,471
  • Zlatoust $1,783

A family of three spends $3,249 per month in Medellin vs $2,429 in Zlatoust, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,249
  • Zlatoust $2,429

Medellin costs about 49% more than Zlatoust, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Zlatoust is 16% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Zlatoust
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.34 COP 26.9K
$12.07 ₽984
-30.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.53 COP 150.3K
$42.08 ₽3,432
10.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 COP 30.6K
$6.47 ₽528
46.37%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 10.1K
$2.94 ₽240
6.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 COP 5,705
$1.20 ₽97.6
47.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 4,601
$0.57 ₽46.71
149.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 COP 10.2K
$1.87 ₽152
68.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 COP 18.4K
$3.06 ₽250
86.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Zlatoust
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 COP 4,950
$1.20 ₽97.7
27.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 COP 7,401
$0.73 ₽59.7
213.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 COP 6,282
$1.39 ₽113
39.57%
Eggs
$3.07 COP 9,905
$1.67 ₽136
83.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 COP 32.3K
$12.07 ₽984
-17.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 COP 33.7K
$5.48 ₽447
90.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 COP 45.1K
$11.36 ₽926
22.89%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 COP 13.1K
$1.81 ₽148
123.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,937
$1.81 ₽148
-15.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 COP 6,797
$1.73 ₽141
21.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 COP 7,409
$3.35 ₽273
-31.64%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 COP 6,813
$0.80 ₽65.0
163.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 COP 5,521
$0.60 ₽48.97
185.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,780
$1.38 ₽113
-15.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 5,104
$0.73 ₽59.5
116.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 COP 12.6K
$3.02 ₽246
29.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.04 COP 45.4K
$8.48 ₽692
65.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 COP 5,690
$1.09 ₽89.0
61.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 COP 8,760
$2.12 ₽173
27.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Zlatoust
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,811
$0.57 ₽46.38
107.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.3 COP 246.4K
$31.20 ₽2,545
144.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 COP 5,836
$2.26 ₽185
-19.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,878
$0.38 ₽30.71
460.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.13 COP 26.3K
$5.85 ₽477
38.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 COP 4,119
$0.81 ₽66.1
58.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K COP 111.2M
$59.9K ₽4.9M
-42.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.3M
$45.7K ₽3.7M
-25.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Zlatoust
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 COP 574.1K
$133 ₽10.9K
33.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.89 COP 44.9K
$6.69 ₽545
107.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.74 COP 99.3K
$8.47 ₽691
262.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Zlatoust
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.94 COP 135.5K
$33.31 ₽2,717
25.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 COP 54.3K
$27.34 ₽2,230
-38.55%
Cinema Ticket
$7.47 COP 24.1K
$6.61 ₽539
13.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Zlatoust
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.6M
$407 ₽33.2K
94.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K COP 39.7M
$6,679 ₽544.7K
84.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Zlatoust
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3 COP 278.9K
$98.6 ₽8,038
-12.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.3 COP 191.4K
$50.8 ₽4,145
16.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 446.9K
$157 ₽12.8K
-11.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8 COP 319.2K
$114 ₽9,318
-13.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Zlatoust
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 COP 4.3M
$500 ₽40.8K
168.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 COP 2.2M
$324 ₽26.4K
106.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,976 COP 6.4M
$937 ₽76.4K
110.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,033 COP 3.3M
$585 ₽47.7K
76.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,098 COP 13.2M
$2,024 ₽165.1K
102.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,940 COP 6.3M
$1,744 ₽142.3K
11.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Zlatoust
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 COP 2.1M
$622 ₽50.7K
3.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
21.33
-48.71%

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

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Last update for Zlatoust: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$667
Zlatoust
$324 51.5% $343
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$307
Zlatoust
$217 29.3% $90
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$222
Zlatoust
$149 33.2% $74
Eating Out
Medellin
$173
Zlatoust
$174 0.7% $1.2
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$172
Zlatoust
$189 9.9% $17
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Zlatoust
$38 59.7% $56
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Zlatoust
$47 18.2% $10

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,341 in Medellin versus $500 in Zlatoust. 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 4% 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 $47 in Medellin versus $42 in Zlatoust. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 vs $217 – making Zlatoust the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇷🇺 Zlatoust
🕒 Local time
05:49 5:49 AM
15:49 3:49 PM
10 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
162,148
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RUB, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3,230 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,628 COP (10,000 COP = 2.76 EUR).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 81.56 RUB (100 RUB = 1.23 USD). 1 EUR = 91.6 RUB (100 RUB = 1.09 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Zlatoust 12,040 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Zlatoust

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 Zlatoust: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zlatoust cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 49%, 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 $2,538 per month in Medellin and $1,705 in Zlatoust. 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 Zlatoust, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $500 there versus $1,341 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Zlatoust?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $42 in Zlatoust. 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 Zlatoust?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,692 in Medellin and $1,137 in Zlatoust. That makes Zlatoust about 33% cheaper.
Is $2,000 enough for either Medellin or Zlatoust?
$2,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,692 in Medellin and $1,137 in Zlatoust, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Medellin or Zlatoust more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zlatoust – 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 Zlatoust. If higher salaries 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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