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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $714 per month in Aktau vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,184 per month in Aktau vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,655 per month in Aktau vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Aktau is about 29% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Aktau and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Aktau 46% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.84 ₸4,666

$5.91 COP 18.6K

66.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.52 ₸18.7K

$32.96 COP 103.8K

19.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.85 ₸4,197

$7.43 COP 23.4K

19.11%

Cappuccino

$2.21 ₸1,047

$1.65 COP 5,207

33.94%

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

$0.51 ₸242

$1.10 COP 3,468

-53.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₸192

$0.78 COP 2,458

-48.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 ₸569

$1.72 COP 5,412

-30.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₸631

$3.18 COP 10.0K

-58.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 ₸568

$1.10 COP 3,474

9.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.38 ₸181

$1.26 COP 3,962

-69.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 ₸765

$1.38 COP 4,349

16.67%

Eggs

$1.44 ₸682

$2.18 COP 6,858

-33.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.91 ₸4,225

$4.49 COP 14.1K

98.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.95 ₸1,872

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-31.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.52 ₸3,565

$8.97 COP 28.2K

-16.16%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 ₸636

$2.32 COP 7,308

-42.24%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 ₸991

$1.06 COP 3,352

97.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.14 ₸1,015

$1.52 COP 4,774

40.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.46 ₸1,168

$1.36 COP 4,270

80.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 ₸263

$1.13 COP 3,552

-50.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 ₸222

$1.17 COP 3,689

-59.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 ₸612

$0.90 COP 2,838

43.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ₸413

$0.90 COP 2,823

-3.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.38 ₸1,130

$2.23 COP 7,034

6.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.78 ₸4,164

$12.12 COP 38.2K

-27.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₸318

$1.19 COP 3,743

-43.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₸385

$2.48 COP 7,815

-67.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 ₸72.9

$0.85 COP 2,687

-82.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 ₸458

$1.42 COP 4,459

-31.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 ₸295

$1.95 COP 6,141

-68.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.75 ₸2,251

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-39.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 ₸220

$0.99 COP 3,118

-53.54%

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

$20.3K ₸9.6M

$17.6K COP 55.4M

15.58%

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

$25.0K ₸11.9M

$26.8K COP 84.4M

-6.70%

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

$40.64 ₸19.3K

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-51.04%

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

$7.71 ₸3,656

$9.70 COP 30.5K

-20.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.29 ₸4,404

$23.52 COP 74.1K

-60.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.69 ₸15.0K

$25.26 COP 79.5K

25.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$2.79 ₸1,322

$3.95 COP 12.4K

-29.37%

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

$129 ₸61.3K

$316 COP 994.2K

-59.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,385 ₸1.1M

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-60.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.4 ₸27.7K

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-2.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.67 ₸16.9K

$31.82 COP 100.2K

12.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.5 ₸29.6K

$102 COP 320.1K

-38.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.7 ₸37.8K

$107 COP 338.3K

-25.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$253 ₸120.1K

$475 COP 1.5M

-46.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ₸84.1K

$374 COP 1.2M

-52.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 ₸210.8K

$849 COP 2.7M

-47.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 ₸173.9K

$719 COP 2.3M

-49.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$755 ₸358.1K

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-76.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$609 ₸288.7K

$1,441 COP 4.5M

-57.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$538 ₸255.0K

$624 COP 2.0M

-13.88%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $253 in Aktau versus $475 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 $40.00 in Aktau versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $178 in Aktau vs $193 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 40% 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 $1,071 per month in Aktau and $1,504 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 $40.00 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 9% 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 $714, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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 $714 versus $1,003 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.