Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Novokuznetsk and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Novokuznetsk: $1,382 a month against $1,614 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Medellin outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Novokuznetsk
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,382
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Novokuznetsk and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Novokuznetsk and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,382 per month in Novokuznetsk vs $1,614 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Novokuznetsk $1,382
  • Medellin $1,614

A couple spends around $2,238 per month in Novokuznetsk vs $2,402 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Novokuznetsk $2,238
  • Medellin $2,402

A family of three spends $3,093 per month in Novokuznetsk vs $3,190 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Novokuznetsk $3,093
  • Medellin $3,190

Novokuznetsk is about 14% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Novokuznetsk and Medellin sit above the global median – Novokuznetsk by 2%, Medellin by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Novokuznetsk
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.84 ₽988
$7.93 COP 25.2K
49.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.7 ₽4,901
$46.13 COP 146.3K
27.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.69 ₽559
$9.50 COP 30.1K
-29.58%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₽209
$3.11 COP 9,866
-19.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 ₽170
$1.83 COP 5,800
11.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 ₽95.4
$1.38 COP 4,360
-17.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.10 ₽342
$3.05 COP 9,672
34.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.82 ₽486
$5.50 COP 17.4K
5.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Novokuznetsk
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 ₽117
$1.45 COP 4,600
-2.76%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 ₽67.4
$2.36 COP 7,496
-65.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.37 ₽114
$1.68 COP 5,328
-18.45%
Eggs
$1.57 ₽131
$2.86 COP 9,077
-45.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.57 ₽715
$10.19 COP 32.3K
-15.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.90 ₽576
$9.53 COP 30.2K
-27.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.35 ₽780
$14.04 COP 44.5K
-33.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.00 ₽167
$4.07 COP 12.9K
-50.86%
Banana (1kg)
$2.26 ₽189
$1.50 COP 4,742
50.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.32 ₽193
$2.17 COP 6,891
6.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.00 ₽334
$2.31 COP 7,310
73.16%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₽72.9
$1.93 COP 6,113
-54.92%
Onion (1kg)
$0.59 ₽49.07
$1.64 COP 5,196
-64.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 ₽121
$1.13 COP 3,571
28.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₽56.3
$1.25 COP 3,954
-46.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.65 ₽305
$3.99 COP 12.6K
-8.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.90 ₽493
$13.35 COP 42.3K
-55.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ₽150
$1.70 COP 5,384
5.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 ₽222
$2.37 COP 7,525
11.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Novokuznetsk
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 ₽47.78
$1.21 COP 3,827
-52.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.95 ₽2,500
$76.5 COP 242.5K
-60.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.74 ₽145
$1.32 COP 4,179
31.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ₽48.43
$2.14 COP 6,774
-72.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.47 COP 26.8K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 ₽68.1
$1.30 COP 4,114
-36.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5K ₽2.7M
$28.0K COP 88.7M
16.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K ₽2.8M
$35.4K COP 112.3M
-4.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novokuznetsk
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$221 ₽18.4K
$172 COP 545.6K
28.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.98 ₽415
$13.37 COP 42.4K
-62.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.36 ₽531
$28.73 COP 91.1K
-77.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Novokuznetsk
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.6 ₽4,225
$45.24 COP 143.5K
11.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.86 ₽2,325
$17.04 COP 54.0K
63.50%
Cinema Ticket
$7.32 ₽611
$6.28 COP 19.9K
16.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Novokuznetsk
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$673 ₽56.2K
$770 COP 2.4M
-12.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.4K ₽1.5M
$9,011 COP 28.6M
93.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Novokuznetsk
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$140 ₽11.7K
$86.4 COP 274.0K
62.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$84.2 ₽7,029
$57.1 COP 181.1K
47.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$181 ₽15.1K
$137 COP 432.9K
32.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$364 ₽30.4K
$97.9 COP 310.4K
272.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Novokuznetsk
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$452 ₽37.7K
$1,055 COP 3.3M
-57.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$293 ₽24.4K
$616 COP 2.0M
-52.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$955 ₽79.7K
$1,892 COP 6.0M
-49.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$670 ₽56.0K
$1,023 COP 3.2M
-34.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,205 ₽184.1K
$4,059 COP 12.9M
-45.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,479 ₽123.4K
$1,678 COP 5.3M
-11.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Novokuznetsk
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$561 ₽46.9K
$652 COP 2.1M
-13.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
22.75
10.94
107.95%

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

Last update for Novokuznetsk: October 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Clothing & Footwear
Novokuznetsk
$346
Medellin
$170 50.9% $176
Accommodation & Living
Novokuznetsk
$293
Medellin
$616 110% $323
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novokuznetsk
$232
Medellin
$214 7.8% $18
Groceries & Markets
Novokuznetsk
$219
Medellin
$295 34.7% $76
Eating Out
Novokuznetsk
$190
Medellin
$168 11.2% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Novokuznetsk
$65
Medellin
$58 11.4% $7.5
Getting Around
Novokuznetsk
$37
Medellin
$93 153% $56

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $452 in Novokuznetsk versus $1,055 in Medellin. 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 16% 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 $59.0 in Novokuznetsk versus $46.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $219 in Novokuznetsk vs $295 in Medellin – so Novokuznetsk wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇷🇺 Novokuznetsk
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
22:05 10:05 PM
10:05 10:05 AM
12 h behind Novokuznetsk
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
544,583
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to RUB – Russian Ruble Converter

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 83.46 RUB (100 RUB = 1.2 USD). 1 EUR = 93.83 RUB (100 RUB = 1.07 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Novokuznetsk Medellin 13,150 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Novokuznetsk
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Novokuznetsk vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Novokuznetsk?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 17%, 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 $2,073 per month in Novokuznetsk and $2,421 in Medellin. 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 Novokuznetsk, 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 Novokuznetsk or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Novokuznetsk and $46.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Novokuznetsk and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,382 in Novokuznetsk and $1,614 in Medellin. That's a gap of about 17%.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Novokuznetsk or in Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Novokuznetsk, where all-in costs run around $1,382, than in Medellin at $1,614. In Novokuznetsk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Novokuznetsk or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Novokuznetsk – 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 Novokuznetsk. 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.

Novokuznetsk vs other spots: cost of living compared

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