Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Aktobe and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Aktobe: $881 a month against $1,614 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $8,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Aktobe
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$881
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $881 per month in Aktobe vs $1,614 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Aktobe $881
  • Medellin $1,614

A couple spends around $1,386 per month in Aktobe vs $2,402 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Aktobe $1,386
  • Medellin $2,402

A family of three spends $1,891 per month in Aktobe vs $3,190 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Aktobe $1,891
  • Medellin $3,190

Aktobe is about 45% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Aktobe sits 35% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aktobe
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.74 ₸3,951
$7.93 COP 25.2K
10.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.63 ₸18.4K
$46.13 COP 146.3K
-11.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.01 ₸3,170
$9.50 COP 30.1K
-26.21%
Cappuccino
$2.47 ₸1,115
$3.11 COP 9,866
-20.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26 ₸567
$1.83 COP 5,800
-31.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 ₸275
$1.38 COP 4,360
-55.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.84 ₸831
$3.05 COP 9,672
-39.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 ₸1,335
$5.50 COP 17.4K
-46.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aktobe
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 ₸641
$1.45 COP 4,600
-2.07%
White Bread (500g)
$0.41 ₸184
$2.36 COP 7,496
-82.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 ₸421
$1.68 COP 5,328
-44.64%
Eggs
$1.77 ₸799
$2.86 COP 9,077
-38.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.82 ₸3,535
$10.19 COP 32.3K
-23.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.68 ₸2,569
$9.53 COP 30.2K
-40.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.10 ₸4,115
$14.04 COP 44.5K
-35.19%
Apples (1kg)
$1.62 ₸733
$4.07 COP 12.9K
-60.20%
Banana (1kg)
$2.13 ₸964
$1.50 COP 4,742
42.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.34 ₸1,058
$2.17 COP 6,891
7.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.94 ₸878
$2.31 COP 7,310
-16.02%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 ₸378
$1.93 COP 6,113
-56.48%
Onion (1kg)
$0.40 ₸181
$1.64 COP 5,196
-75.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ₸494
$1.13 COP 3,571
-3.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 ₸312
$1.25 COP 3,954
-44.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53 ₸1,142
$3.99 COP 12.6K
-36.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.95 ₸2,689
$13.35 COP 42.3K
-55.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 ₸489
$1.70 COP 5,384
-36.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ₸818
$2.37 COP 7,525
-23.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Aktobe
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 ₸90.8
$1.21 COP 3,827
-83.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.62 ₸7,966
$76.5 COP 242.5K
-76.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.08 ₸487
$1.32 COP 4,179
-18.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.13 ₸511
$2.14 COP 6,774
-47.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.53 ₸2,499
$8.47 COP 26.8K
-34.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.65 ₸294
$1.30 COP 4,114
-50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K ₸10.4M
$28.0K COP 88.7M
-17.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K ₸13.8M
$35.4K COP 112.3M
-13.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aktobe
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$55.8 ₸25.2K
$172 COP 545.6K
-67.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.35 ₸4,680
$13.37 COP 42.4K
-22.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.93 ₸9,463
$28.73 COP 91.1K
-27.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aktobe
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.08 ₸21.7K
$45.24 COP 143.5K
6.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.14 ₸5,490
$17.04 COP 54.0K
-28.76%
Cinema Ticket
$5.44 ₸2,458
$6.28 COP 19.9K
-13.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aktobe
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$220 ₸99.6K
$770 COP 2.4M
-71.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,286 ₸1.5M
$9,011 COP 28.6M
-63.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aktobe
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4 ₸24.6K
$86.4 COP 274.0K
-37.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.8 ₸25.2K
$57.1 COP 181.1K
-2.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₸53.3K
$137 COP 432.9K
-13.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 ₸45.3K
$97.9 COP 310.4K
2.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aktobe
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$307 ₸138.8K
$1,055 COP 3.3M
-70.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$233 ₸105.5K
$616 COP 2.0M
-62.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$453 ₸204.8K
$1,892 COP 6.0M
-76.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$359 ₸162.3K
$1,023 COP 3.2M
-64.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$846 ₸382.4K
$4,059 COP 12.9M
-79.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$546 ₸247.0K
$1,678 COP 5.3M
-67.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aktobe
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$548 ₸247.8K
$652 COP 2.1M
-15.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
17
10.94
55.39%

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

Last update for Aktobe: October 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Aktobe
$234
Medellin
$616 164% $382
Groceries & Markets
Aktobe
$185
Medellin
$295 59.2% $110
Clothing & Footwear
Aktobe
$148
Medellin
$170 15.1% $22
Eating Out
Aktobe
$143
Medellin
$168 17.7% $25
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aktobe
$87
Medellin
$214 146% $127
Sport & Entertainment
Aktobe
$59
Medellin
$58 2% $1.1
Getting Around
Aktobe
$25
Medellin
$93 271% $68

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $307 in Aktobe versus $1,055 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 19% 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 $41.00 in Aktobe versus $46.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $295 – making Aktobe the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇰🇿 Aktobe
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
12:28 12:28 PM
02:28 2:28 AM
10 h behind Aktobe
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
570,452
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to KZT – Kazakhstani Tenge Converter

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 452 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.21 USD). 1 EUR = 508 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.97 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Aktobe Medellin 12,270 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Aktobe
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Aktobe vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Aktobe?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 83%, 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 $1,321 per month in Aktobe and $2,421 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 Aktobe, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Aktobe and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 59% 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 eating out cheaper in Aktobe or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Aktobe and $46.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Aktobe or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aktobe, where all-in costs run around $881, than in Medellin at $1,614. In Aktobe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Aktobe or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Aktobe – 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 Aktobe. 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.

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