Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tomsk and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Tomsk: $1,147 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tomsk, Russia
Medellin, Colombia
Tomsk
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,147
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tomsk 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 Tomsk and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,147 per month in Tomsk vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Tomsk $1,147
  • Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $1,768 per month in Tomsk vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Tomsk $1,768
  • Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $2,389 per month in Tomsk vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Tomsk $2,389
  • Medellin $3,186

Tomsk is about 30% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Tomsk sits 16% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tomsk
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.05 ₽649
$8.09 COP 26.1K
-0.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.48 ₽2,455
$47.05 COP 151.9K
-35.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.68 ₽538
$9.50 COP 30.7K
-29.68%
Cappuccino
$2.21 ₽178
$3.01 COP 9,735
-26.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 ₽73.0
$1.80 COP 5,809
-49.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ₽33.62
$1.41 COP 4,561
-70.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.17 ₽94.3
$3.18 COP 10.3K
-63.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 ₽269
$5.75 COP 18.6K
-41.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tomsk
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 ₽99.0
$1.51 COP 4,876
-18.54%
White Bread (500g)
$0.70 ₽56.5
$2.38 COP 7,678
-70.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 ₽79.7
$1.77 COP 5,720
-44.07%
Eggs
$1.36 ₽109
$2.89 COP 9,333
-52.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.20 ₽983
$10.19 COP 32.9K
19.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.71 ₽379
$9.87 COP 31.9K
-52.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.92 ₽799
$13.99 COP 45.2K
-29.09%
Apples (1kg)
$1.73 ₽139
$3.97 COP 12.8K
-56.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 ₽157
$1.55 COP 5,012
25.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 ₽179
$2.18 COP 7,048
2.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.94 ₽237
$2.18 COP 7,051
34.86%
Potato (1kg)
$0.47 ₽37.55
$1.96 COP 6,337
-76.02%
Onion (1kg)
$0.36 ₽28.81
$1.59 COP 5,132
-77.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.74 ₽140
$1.15 COP 3,699
51.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ₽40.72
$1.24 COP 4,014
-58.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.79 ₽225
$3.96 COP 12.8K
-29.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.17 ₽497
$13.68 COP 44.2K
-54.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 ₽73.9
$1.66 COP 5,359
-44.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 ₽133
$2.26 COP 7,291
-26.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Tomsk
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.45 ₽36.62
$1.17 COP 3,771
-61.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.51 ₽1,490
$77.4 COP 249.8K
-76.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ₽195
$1.27 COP 4,094
90.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.32 ₽26.00
$2.05 COP 6,612
-84.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.27 ₽586
$8.55 COP 27.6K
-14.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 ₽66.8
$1.35 COP 4,349
-38.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$54.1K ₽4.4M
$34.1K COP 110.0M
58.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.8K ₽3.4M
$34.7K COP 111.9M
20.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tomsk
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 ₽13.6K
$170 COP 547.8K
-0.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.39 ₽676
$13.55 COP 43.8K
-38.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.60 ₽1,095
$28.07 COP 90.6K
-51.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tomsk
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.40 ₽3,173
$43.70 COP 141.1K
-9.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.58 ₽1,335
$17.19 COP 55.5K
-3.55%
Cinema Ticket
$4.87 ₽393
$6.91 COP 22.3K
-29.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tomsk
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$252 ₽20.3K
$797 COP 2.6M
-68.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$9,112 COP 29.4M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tomsk
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$122 ₽9,814
$84.7 COP 273.5K
43.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$74.6 ₽6,010
$58.0 COP 187.2K
28.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$176 ₽14.2K
$135 COP 435.8K
30.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 ₽10.1K
$97.9 COP 316.0K
28.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tomsk
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$511 ₽41.2K
$1,208 COP 3.9M
-57.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$332 ₽26.7K
$642 COP 2.1M
-48.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$828 ₽66.7K
$2,028 COP 6.5M
-59.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$651 ₽52.4K
$1,012 COP 3.3M
-35.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,096 ₽168.8K
$4,170 COP 13.5M
-49.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,534 ₽123.5K
$1,910 COP 6.2M
-19.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tomsk
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$930 ₽74.9K
$657 COP 2.1M
41.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
22
10.94
101.10%

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

Last update for Tomsk: October 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tomsk
$332
Medellin
$642 93.5% $310
Clothing & Footwear
Tomsk
$224
Medellin
$169 24.7% $55
Groceries & Markets
Tomsk
$198
Medellin
$297 50.1% $99
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tomsk
$191
Medellin
$211 10.6% $20
Eating Out
Tomsk
$129
Medellin
$170 31.6% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Tomsk
$49
Medellin
$58 17% $8.4
Getting Around
Tomsk
$24
Medellin
$94 284% $69

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $511 in Tomsk versus $1,208 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 42% higher in Tomsk, 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 $30 in Tomsk versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $297 – making Tomsk the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇷🇺 Tomsk
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
18:10 6:10 PM
06:10 6:10 AM
12 h behind Tomsk
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
551,505
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to RUB – Russian Ruble Converter

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 80.53 RUB (100 RUB = 1.24 USD). 1 EUR = 89.87 RUB (100 RUB = 1.11 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,603 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tomsk Medellin 12,810 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tomsk
  • 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
Tomsk vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tomsk cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 43%, 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 $1,721 per month in Tomsk and $2,459 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 Tomsk, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $511 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Tomsk or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $30 in Tomsk and $47 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 Tomsk and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,147 in Tomsk and $1,639 in Medellin. That makes Tomsk about 30% cheaper.
Is $1,000 enough to cover costs in Tomsk or in Medellin?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,147 in Tomsk and $1,639 in Medellin. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Tomsk or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tomsk – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Tomsk is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 30% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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