🙂A single person spends $872 per month in Rustavi vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,287 per month in Rustavi vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,703 per month in Rustavi vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Rustavi is about 14% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Rustavi and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Rustavi35% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rustavi
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.00₾29.12
$5.95COP 20.8K
84.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.81₾76.3
$33.33COP 116.3K
-13.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47₾22.43
$7.23COP 25.2K
17.15%
Cappuccino
$1.90₾5.04
$1.63COP 5,687
16.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.01
$1.09COP 3,821
-30.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$0.73COP 2,548
-36.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.16₾5.73
$1.74COP 6,065
24.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84₾7.53
$3.23COP 11.3K
-12.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rustavi
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85₾4.91
$1.05COP 3,662
76.19%
White Bread(500g)
$0.69₾1.82
$1.29COP 4,515
-46.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56₾4.12
$1.32COP 4,617
18.18%
Eggs
$2.22₾5.88
$2.27COP 7,927
-2.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.58₾20.07
$4.35COP 15.2K
74.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.50₾11.92
$5.88COP 20.5K
-23.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.13₾24.17
$8.61COP 30.0K
6.04%
Apples(1kg)
$0.90₾2.38
$2.25COP 7,844
-60.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₾4.38
$1.07COP 3,733
54.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.76
$1.52COP 5,322
18.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.99₾2.63
$1.42COP 4,964
-30.28%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65₾1.72
$1.17COP 4,084
-44.44%
Onion(1kg)
$0.62₾1.63
$1.17COP 4,077
-47.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22₾3.23
$0.89COP 3,096
37.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.85
$0.90COP 3,146
-22.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.93₾7.75
$2.25COP 7,837
30.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.77₾9.99
$11.04COP 38.5K
-65.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46₾3.87
$1.14COP 3,977
28.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21₾5.85
$2.38COP 8,301
-7.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Rustavi
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23₾0.60
$0.84COP 2,916
-72.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.66₾28.25
$41.95COP 146.4K
-74.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31₾3.48
$1.41COP 4,912
-7.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35₾0.93
$1.90COP 6,634
-81.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.56₾9.42
$7.75COP 27.0K
-54.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10₾2.91
$1.01COP 3,509
8.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.4K₾48.8K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
4.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$8,992₾23.8K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-66.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rustavi
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.5₾195
$83.7COP 292.1K
-12.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.41₾19.62
$9.45COP 33.0K
-21.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.05₾29.27
$24.11COP 84.1K
-54.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rustavi
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.38₾67.2
$25.31COP 88.3K
0.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.42₾48.79
$19.14COP 66.8K
-3.76%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61₾17.51
$4.10COP 14.3K
61.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rustavi
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$268₾709
$312COP 1.1M
-14.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,143₾13.6K
$5,993COP 20.9M
-14.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rustavi
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.3₾194
$58.0COP 202.6K
26.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.75₾116
$32.56COP 113.6K
34.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105₾277
$99.6COP 347.7K
5.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103₾273
$109COP 378.8K
-5.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rustavi
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$253₾670
$482COP 1.7M
-47.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239₾634
$379COP 1.3M
-36.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$447₾1,185
$837COP 2.9M
-46.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$296₾785
$723COP 2.5M
-59.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,045₾2,767
$2,840COP 9.9M
-63.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$746₾1,976
$1,223COP 4.3M
-39.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rustavi
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$431₾1,143
$541COP 1.9M
-20.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
13.43
-11.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rustavi: June 9, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $253 in Rustavi versus $482 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 25% 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 $29.00 in Rustavi versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $175 vs $190 – making Rustavi 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
Rustavi vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Rustavi?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,308 per month in Rustavi and $1,525 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 Rustavi, 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 Rustavi or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Rustavi and $33.00 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 Rustavi vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $872 in Rustavi and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Rustavi or Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Rustavi, where all-in costs run around $872, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Rustavi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Rustavi or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Rustavi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Rustavi or Medellin?
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 Rustavi. 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.