Cost of Living Comparison Between Astana and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Astana and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $912 per month in Astana vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,422 per month in Astana vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,933 per month in Astana vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Astana is about 10% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Astana and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Astana 32% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Astana
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.10 ₸3,936
$5.99 COP 21.5K
35.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.85 ₸14.0K
$32.86 COP 118.1K
-12.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.76 ₸2,797
$7.09 COP 25.5K
-18.76%
Cappuccino
$2.19 ₸1,066
$1.71 COP 6,155
28.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 ₸444
$1.10 COP 3,950
-17.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₸259
$0.78 COP 2,799
-32.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.14 ₸554
$1.68 COP 6,037
-32.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 ₸1,432
$3.07 COP 11.0K
-3.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Astana
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 ₸492
$1.09 COP 3,931
-7.34%
White Bread (500g)
$0.50 ₸245
$1.26 COP 4,537
-60.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 ₸680
$1.38 COP 4,955
1.45%
Eggs
$1.79 ₸868
$2.19 COP 7,878
-18.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.34 ₸4,537
$4.40 COP 15.8K
112.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.73 ₸2,300
$5.63 COP 20.2K
-15.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.96 ₸3,381
$8.89 COP 32.0K
-21.71%
Apples (1kg)
$1.36 ₸661
$2.34 COP 8,403
-41.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.87 ₸907
$1.06 COP 3,802
76.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 ₸935
$1.50 COP 5,409
28.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 ₸959
$1.38 COP 4,956
42.75%
Potato (1kg)
$0.58 ₸283
$1.15 COP 4,138
-49.57%
Onion (1kg)
$0.38 ₸183
$1.16 COP 4,183
-67.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ₸495
$0.89 COP 3,203
14.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 ₸364
$0.84 COP 3,016
-10.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.81 ₸878
$2.28 COP 8,198
-20.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.14 ₸4,440
$10.64 COP 38.3K
-14.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 ₸497
$1.20 COP 4,312
-15.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 ₸823
$2.47 COP 8,882
-31.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Astana
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.21 ₸102
$0.86 COP 3,076
-75.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.56 ₸7,075
$41.40 COP 148.8K
-64.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.79 ₸868
$1.47 COP 5,298
21.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.71 ₸345
$1.96 COP 7,055
-63.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.51 ₸2,191
$7.74 COP 27.8K
-41.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.47 ₸226
$0.95 COP 3,431
-50.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K ₸10.1M
$18.1K COP 65.2M
14.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K ₸12.0M
$26.5K COP 95.2M
-6.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Astana
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.9 ₸26.2K
$82.3 COP 295.7K
-34.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.00 ₸3,888
$9.50 COP 34.2K
-15.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.90 ₸6,751
$24.23 COP 87.1K
-42.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Astana
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.83 ₸24.2K
$25.89 COP 93.0K
92.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.16 ₸5,419
$19.00 COP 68.3K
-41.26%
Cinema Ticket
$5.30 ₸2,572
$3.93 COP 14.1K
34.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Astana
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$238 ₸115.8K
$309 COP 1.1M
-22.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,790 ₸2.3M
$5,965 COP 21.4M
-19.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Astana
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ₸27.1K
$58.7 COP 210.8K
-4.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85 ₸16.9K
$32.35 COP 116.3K
7.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.8 ₸43.1K
$103 COP 368.8K
-13.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.1 ₸41.8K
$108 COP 389.7K
-20.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Astana
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$478 ₸232.1K
$476 COP 1.7M
0.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$328 ₸159.2K
$379 COP 1.4M
-13.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$848 ₸412.2K
$838 COP 3.0M
1.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$598 ₸290.3K
$724 COP 2.6M
-17.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,378 ₸669.5K
$2,791 COP 10.0M
-50.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$993 ₸482.3K
$1,211 COP 4.4M
-18.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Astana
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$798 ₸387.8K
$512 COP 1.8M
55.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.12
13.43
20.03%

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

Last update for Astana: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $478 in Astana versus $476 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 56% higher in Astana, 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 $29.00 in Astana versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $178 vs $188 – making Astana 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
Astana vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Astana and Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $912 in Astana, $1,013 in Medellin – roughly 11% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Astana compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,367 per month in Astana and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Astana and Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Astana, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Astana and Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $238 per month in Astana and $309 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 6% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Astana, where all-in costs run around $912, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Astana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Astana and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $912 in Astana to $1,013 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Astana or Medellin safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Astana and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Astana. 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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