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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Medellin costs about 47% more than Aktau, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$9.63 ₸4,455

-38.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$38.39 ₸17.7K

-14.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$8.84 ₸4,085

-18.55%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$2.27 ₸1,048

-25.11%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$0.56 ₸257

96.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.43 ₸200

67.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$1.19 ₸551

40.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$1.38 ₸639

124.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$1.20 ₸557

-11.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$0.39 ₸179

220.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$1.69 ₸782

-17.75%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$1.37 ₸631

64.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$8.90 ₸4,117

-51.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$3.89 ₸1,800

50.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$7.86 ₸3,634

12.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$1.29 ₸597

73.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$1.98 ₸916

-45.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$2.14 ₸991

-28.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$2.52 ₸1,166

-45.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$0.58 ₸268

94.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$0.51 ₸236

119.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$1.35 ₸626

-37.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.81 ₸376

12.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$2.40 ₸1,108

-2.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$9.04 ₸4,179

23.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$0.63 ₸290

88.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$0.76 ₸352

211.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$0.14 ₸66.8

464.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$1.03 ₸475

39.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$0.59 ₸271

223.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$4.77 ₸2,206

68.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$0.47 ₸215

100.00%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$20.5K ₸9.5M

-12.39%

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$24.5K ₸11.3M

9.36%

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$39.58 ₸18.3K

112.13%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$7.58 ₸3,505

26.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$9.75 ₸4,507

147.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$31.97 ₸14.8K

-19.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$2.69 ₸1,242

45.72%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$128 ₸59.1K

139.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$2,304 ₸1.1M

156.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$58.4 ₸27.0K

-0.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$34.63 ₸16.0K

-8.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$64.8 ₸30.0K

54.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$79.7 ₸36.8K

34.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$251 ₸116.3K

93.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$179 ₸82.7K

105.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$446 ₸206.2K

85.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$373 ₸172.2K

92.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

$779 ₸360.2K

275.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

$617 ₸285.3K

127.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$548 ₸253.2K

-0.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

67.88%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Aktau: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $251 in Aktau. 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $38.00 in Aktau. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $178 in Aktau – 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

Medellin vs Aktau: 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,052 in Aktau. 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 $33.00 in Medellin and $38.00 in Aktau. 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.