🙂A single person spends $1,011 per month in Novoshakhtinsk vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,545 per month in Novoshakhtinsk vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,080 per month in Novoshakhtinsk vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Novoshakhtinsk is about 38% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Novoshakhtinsk sits 27% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Novoshakhtinsk
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.24₽958
$8.04COP 24.9K
39.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.59₽3,033
$48.29COP 149.7K
-26.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.38₽544
$9.42COP 29.2K
-32.27%
Cappuccino
$2.51₽214
$2.94COP 9,105
-14.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22₽104
$1.86COP 5,776
-34.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67₽56.7
$1.46COP 4,511
-54.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.91₽163
$3.21COP 9,953
-40.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76₽235
$5.71COP 17.7K
-51.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Novoshakhtinsk
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.98₽83.8
$1.44COP 4,460
-31.94%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₽57.8
$2.40COP 7,442
-71.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.37₽116
$1.70COP 5,265
-19.41%
Eggs
$1.54₽131
$2.89COP 8,960
-46.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.37₽798
$10.06COP 31.2K
-6.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.47₽466
$9.97COP 30.9K
-45.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.44₽890
$14.20COP 44.0K
-26.48%
Apples(1kg)
$1.73₽148
$3.98COP 12.3K
-56.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50₽128
$1.58COP 4,913
-5.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.61₽137
$2.15COP 6,671
-25.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.89₽247
$2.30COP 7,129
25.65%
Potato(1kg)
$0.63₽54.1
$2.00COP 6,213
-68.50%
Onion(1kg)
$0.62₽52.5
$1.51COP 4,679
-58.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20₽103
$1.20COP 3,727
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78₽66.5
$1.28COP 3,974
-39.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.20₽273
$3.84COP 11.9K
-16.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.62₽650
$14.01COP 43.4K
-45.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98₽83.6
$1.71COP 5,294
-42.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69₽144
$2.74COP 8,500
-38.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Novoshakhtinsk
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.50₽42.34
$1.25COP 3,861
-60.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$77.9COP 241.5K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.33₽198
$1.31COP 4,045
77.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29₽24.76
$2.17COP 6,728
-86.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.76₽406
$8.29COP 25.7K
-42.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.70₽59.9
$1.36COP 4,202
-48.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K₽2.9M
$27.5KCOP 85.2M
23.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K₽2.8M
$36.5KCOP 113.2M
-8.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novoshakhtinsk
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125₽10.7K
$169COP 523.0K
-25.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.30₽452
$13.57COP 42.1K
-60.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.95₽678
$28.32COP 87.8K
-71.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Novoshakhtinsk
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.63₽3,122
$45.71COP 141.7K
-19.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.40₽1,739
$17.22COP 53.4K
18.47%
Cinema Ticket
$6.15₽524
$6.65COP 20.6K
-7.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Novoshakhtinsk
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$334₽28.5K
$803COP 2.5M
-58.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,354₽456.3K
$9,190COP 28.5M
-41.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Novoshakhtinsk
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.4₽6,342
$87.4COP 270.8K
-14.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.47₽4,217
$59.4COP 184.0K
-16.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₽10.0K
$139COP 430.5K
-15.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.0₽7,500
$102COP 316.3K
-13.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Novoshakhtinsk
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$437₽37.2K
$1,071COP 3.3M
-59.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$333₽28.4K
$653COP 2.0M
-49.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$723₽61.6K
$1,925COP 6.0M
-62.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₽39.4K
$1,048COP 3.2M
-55.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,148₽183.0K
$4,123COP 12.8M
-47.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,259₽107.3K
$1,697COP 5.3M
-25.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Novoshakhtinsk
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$655COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
21
10.94
91.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novoshakhtinsk: September 5, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $437 in Novoshakhtinsk versus $1,071 in Medellin. 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 $36.00 in Novoshakhtinsk versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $194 vs $300 – making Novoshakhtinsk the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Novoshakhtinsk vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Novoshakhtinsk?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 62%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,516 per month in Novoshakhtinsk and $2,462 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 Novoshakhtinsk, 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 Novoshakhtinsk or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Novoshakhtinsk and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Novoshakhtinsk and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 54% 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 $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Novoshakhtinsk or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Novoshakhtinsk, where all-in costs run around $1,011, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Novoshakhtinsk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Novoshakhtinsk or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Novoshakhtinsk – 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 Novoshakhtinsk. 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.
Novoshakhtinsk vs other spots: cost of living compared