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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,119 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,826 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $2,533 in Astana, rent included.

Medellin costs about 50% more than Astana, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Astana is 18% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.0K

$10.74 ₸4,814

-25.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 149.4K

$37.35 ₸16.7K

28.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 30.8K

$7.86 ₸3,523

25.83%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,767

$2.63 ₸1,178

19.01%

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

$1.91 COP 5,954

$1.10 ₸492

73.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,712

$0.66 ₸297

128.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,747

$1.36 ₸611

129.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

$2.23 ₸999

157.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,509

$1.33 ₸598

8.27%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,759

$0.62 ₸276

301.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,535

$1.77 ₸793

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,235

$2.30 ₸1,032

28.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.4K

$12.16 ₸5,450

-17.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.6K

$6.09 ₸2,731

66.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 44.6K

$10.47 ₸4,695

36.58%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 12.9K

$1.80 ₸807

130.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,019

$2.46 ₸1,105

-34.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,007

$2.33 ₸1,045

-3.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,028

$2.37 ₸1,063

-5.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,375

$0.73 ₸326

179.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,790

$0.48 ₸213

220.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,651

$1.49 ₸668

-21.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,077

$0.92 ₸411

42.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

$2.31 ₸1,037

68.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.7K

$11.09 ₸4,972

26.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,439

$1.40 ₸626

24.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

$2.41 ₸1,080

19.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

$0.26 ₸117

369.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

$16.78 ₸7,521

379.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,084

$2.69 ₸1,208

-51.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,825

$1.13 ₸508

93.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

$6.79 ₸3,043

28.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,260

$0.65 ₸292

110.77%

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

$27.8K COP 86.9M

$24.2K ₸10.9M

14.86%

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

$35.8K COP 111.6M

$30.9K ₸13.8M

15.88%

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

$177 COP 553.2K

$67.5 ₸30.2K

162.82%

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

$13.88 COP 43.3K

$10.06 ₸4,511

37.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 92.8K

$18.65 ₸8,362

59.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 140.1K

$59.1 ₸26.5K

-24.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

$20.49 ₸9,186

-16.45%

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.7K

$6.12 ₸2,744

8.66%

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

$813 COP 2.5M

$375 ₸168.3K

116.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

$11.6K ₸5.2M

-20.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 279.3K

$70.4 ₸31.6K

27.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 184.0K

$46.07 ₸20.7K

28.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 431.2K

$121 ₸54.5K

13.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 318.7K

$132 ₸59.3K

-22.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

$565 ₸253.1K

88.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

$391 ₸175.2K

69.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 5.9M

$1,148 ₸514.5K

64.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

$784 ₸351.3K

31.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

$1,524 ₸683.1K

174.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

$1,132 ₸507.5K

47.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

$885 ₸396.8K

-23.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

15.5

-29.42%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Astana: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $565 in Astana. 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 31% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $37.00 in Astana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $233 – 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

Medellin vs Astana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,681 in Medellin, $1,119 in Astana – roughly 50% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,678 in Astana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $813 per month in Medellin and $375 in Astana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Astana, where all-in costs run around $1,119, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Astana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,119 in Astana to $1,681 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 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.