Cost of Living Comparison Between Aktau and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Aktau and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $702 per month in Aktau vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,160 per month in Aktau vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,619 per month in Aktau vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Aktau is about 32% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Aktau and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Aktau 48% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.63 ₸4,455

$5.92 COP 21.4K

62.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.39 ₸17.7K

$32.75 COP 118.2K

17.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ₸4,085

$7.20 COP 26.0K

22.78%

Cappuccino

$2.27 ₸1,048

$1.70 COP 6,140

33.53%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₸257

$1.10 COP 3,966

-49.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₸200

$0.72 COP 2,605

-40.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 ₸551

$1.67 COP 6,022

-28.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₸639

$3.10 COP 11.2K

-55.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 ₸557

$1.06 COP 3,809

13.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.39 ₸179

$1.25 COP 4,497

-68.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 ₸782

$1.39 COP 5,022

21.58%

Eggs

$1.37 ₸631

$2.26 COP 8,168

-39.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.90 ₸4,117

$4.33 COP 15.6K

105.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.89 ₸1,800

$5.84 COP 21.1K

-33.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.86 ₸3,634

$8.83 COP 31.9K

-10.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.29 ₸597

$2.24 COP 8,099

-42.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₸916

$1.08 COP 3,882

83.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.14 ₸991

$1.53 COP 5,522

39.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₸1,166

$1.37 COP 4,950

83.94%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₸268

$1.13 COP 4,078

-48.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 ₸236

$1.12 COP 4,036

-54.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 ₸626

$0.85 COP 3,057

58.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₸376

$0.91 COP 3,281

-10.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.40 ₸1,108

$2.33 COP 8,414

3.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.04 ₸4,179

$11.13 COP 40.2K

-18.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₸290

$1.19 COP 4,309

-47.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₸352

$2.37 COP 8,553

-67.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 ₸66.8

$0.79 COP 2,838

-82.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 ₸475

$1.44 COP 5,184

-28.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.59 ₸271

$1.91 COP 6,901

-69.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.77 ₸2,206

$8.02 COP 28.9K

-40.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 ₸215

$0.94 COP 3,385

-50.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.5K ₸9.5M

$17.9K COP 64.7M

14.14%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.5K ₸11.3M

$26.8K COP 96.7M

-8.56%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$39.58 ₸18.3K

$84.0 COP 303.1K

-52.86%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$7.58 ₸3,505

$9.60 COP 34.7K

-21.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.75 ₸4,507

$24.16 COP 87.2K

-59.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.97 ₸14.8K

$25.88 COP 93.4K

23.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

Cinema Ticket

$2.69 ₸1,242

$3.92 COP 14.1K

-31.38%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$128 ₸59.1K

$306 COP 1.1M

-58.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,304 ₸1.1M

$5,919 COP 21.4M

-61.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.4 ₸27.0K

$57.9 COP 209.1K

0.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.63 ₸16.0K

$31.82 COP 114.9K

8.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.8 ₸30.0K

$99.9 COP 360.6K

-35.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.7 ₸36.8K

$107 COP 386.8K

-25.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$251 ₸116.3K

$487 COP 1.8M

-48.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 ₸82.7K

$368 COP 1.3M

-51.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$446 ₸206.2K

$826 COP 3.0M

-45.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$373 ₸172.2K

$716 COP 2.6M

-47.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$779 ₸360.2K

$2,925 COP 10.6M

-73.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$617 ₸285.3K

$1,407 COP 5.1M

-56.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$548 ₸253.2K

$546 COP 2.0M

0.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-40.43%

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

Last update for Aktau: April 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $251 in Aktau versus $487 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 0% higher in Aktau, 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 $38.00 in Aktau versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $178 in Aktau vs $190 in Medellin – so Aktau wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Aktau vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 47% more than Aktau, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,052 per month in Aktau and $1,550 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Aktau, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Aktau and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Aktau, where all-in costs run around $702, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Aktau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aktau costs $702 versus $1,034 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Aktau. 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.