Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Zlatoust Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Zlatoust

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,018 per month in Medellin vs $934 in Zlatoust, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,609 per month in Medellin vs $1,445 in Zlatoust, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,200 per month in Medellin vs $1,955 in Zlatoust, rent included.

Medellin costs about 9% more than Zlatoust, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Zlatoust are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Zlatoust 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Zlatoust
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.93 COP 19.1K
$6.38 ₽495
-7.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.12 COP 106.6K
$38.62 ₽2,998
-14.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.12 COP 22.9K
$5.55 ₽431
28.29%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COP 5,487
$2.26 ₽175
-24.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,374
$1.13 ₽87.7
-7.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,324
$0.52 ₽40.31
38.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,531
$1.37 ₽107
25.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.2K
$2.50 ₽194
26.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Zlatoust
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,426
$1.11 ₽86.5
-4.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,215
$0.70 ₽54.6
87.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 4,279
$1.39 ₽108
-4.32%
Eggs
$2.28 COP 7,338
$1.76 ₽137
29.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.42 COP 14.2K
$10.89 ₽845
-59.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.92 COP 19.0K
$4.80 ₽373
23.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 27.8K
$8.63 ₽670
0.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COP 7,545
$1.73 ₽134
35.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 COP 3,546
$1.90 ₽148
-42.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 COP 4,724
$1.92 ₽149
-23.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,439
$2.71 ₽211
-49.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,774
$0.85 ₽65.6
37.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,765
$0.70 ₽54.6
67.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,905
$1.41 ₽109
-36.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 2,708
$0.68 ₽52.6
23.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 7,490
$3.01 ₽234
-22.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.92 COP 38.3K
$5.49 ₽426
117.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 COP 3,693
$0.93 ₽72.4
23.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 COP 7,791
$1.91 ₽148
26.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Zlatoust
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,702
$0.50 ₽38.65
68.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.83 COP 131.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 4,541
$1.85 ₽143
-23.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,160
$0.35 ₽27.27
445.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.83 COP 25.2K
$6.30 ₽489
24.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,037
$0.78 ₽60.5
20.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8K COP 57.3M
$33.7K ₽2.6M
-47.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K COP 87.1M
$35.7K ₽2.8M
-24.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Zlatoust
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.3 COP 267.9K
$110 ₽8,548
-24.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.66 COP 31.1K
$5.99 ₽465
61.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.22 COP 77.9K
$7.63 ₽593
217.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Zlatoust
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.22 COP 81.2K
$35.37 ₽2,746
-28.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.33 COP 62.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.07 COP 13.1K
$5.06 ₽393
-19.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Zlatoust
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 COP 986.5K
$320 ₽24.9K
-4.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,981 COP 19.2M
$7,016 ₽544.8K
-14.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Zlatoust
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 192.9K
$71.2 ₽5,528
-15.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.65 COP 105.1K
$45.01 ₽3,495
-27.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 325.2K
$115 ₽8,913
-11.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 347.6K
$108 ₽8,363
0.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Zlatoust
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COP 1.5M
$453 ₽35.2K
5.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.2M
$301 ₽23.3K
26.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$816 COP 2.6M
$763 ₽59.2K
7.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$707 COP 2.3M
$513 ₽39.8K
38.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,190 COP 10.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,446 COP 4.7M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Zlatoust
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$622 COP 2.0M
$635 ₽49.3K
-2.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
15.33
-12.39%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026

Last update for Zlatoust: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $453 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 2% higher in Zlatoust, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $39.00 in Zlatoust. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $192 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 9%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,527 per month in Medellin and $1,401 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Zlatoust?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $39.00 in Zlatoust. 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 Zlatoust?
Groceries cost about 0% 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 $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Zlatoust?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Zlatoust, where all-in costs run around $934, than in Medellin at $1,018. In Zlatoust it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
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, 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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