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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Medellin costs about 11% more than Astana, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.5K

$8.10 ₸3,936

-26.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 118.1K

$28.85 ₸14.0K

13.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.5K

$5.76 ₸2,797

23.09%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,155

$2.19 ₸1,066

-21.92%

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

$1.10 COP 3,950

$0.91 ₸444

20.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,799

$0.53 ₸259

47.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 6,037

$1.14 ₸554

47.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$2.95 ₸1,432

4.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,931

$1.01 ₸492

7.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,537

$0.50 ₸245

152.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,955

$1.40 ₸680

-1.43%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,878

$1.79 ₸868

22.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.8K

$9.34 ₸4,537

-52.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.2K

$4.73 ₸2,300

19.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 32.0K

$6.96 ₸3,381

27.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,403

$1.36 ₸661

72.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,802

$1.87 ₸907

-43.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,409

$1.92 ₸935

-21.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,956

$1.97 ₸959

-29.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,138

$0.58 ₸283

98.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,183

$0.38 ₸183

205.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,203

$1.02 ₸495

-12.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 3,016

$0.75 ₸364

12.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,198

$1.81 ₸878

25.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.3K

$9.14 ₸4,440

16.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,312

$1.02 ₸497

17.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,882

$1.70 ₸823

45.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,076

$0.21 ₸102

309.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 148.8K

$14.56 ₸7,075

184.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,298

$1.79 ₸868

-17.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,055

$0.71 ₸345

176.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.8K

$4.51 ₸2,191

71.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,431

$0.47 ₸226

102.13%

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

$18.1K COP 65.2M

$20.7K ₸10.1M

-12.59%

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

$26.5K COP 95.2M

$24.7K ₸12.0M

7.02%

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

$82.3 COP 295.7K

$53.9 ₸26.2K

52.48%

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

$9.50 COP 34.2K

$8.00 ₸3,888

18.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 87.1K

$13.90 ₸6,751

74.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 93.0K

$49.83 ₸24.2K

-48.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 68.3K

$11.16 ₸5,419

70.25%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.1K

$5.30 ₸2,572

-25.85%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$238 ₸115.8K

29.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.4M

$4,790 ₸2.3M

24.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 210.8K

$55.8 ₸27.1K

5.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 116.3K

$34.85 ₸16.9K

-7.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 368.8K

$88.8 ₸43.1K

15.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 389.7K

$86.1 ₸41.8K

25.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$478 ₸232.1K

-0.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$328 ₸159.2K

15.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$848 ₸412.2K

-1.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$598 ₸290.3K

21.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$1,378 ₸669.5K

102.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.4M

$993 ₸482.3K

22.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$798 ₸387.8K

-35.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

16.12

-16.69%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Astana: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $478 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 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $29.00 in Astana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $178 – 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: $1,013 in Medellin, $912 in Astana – roughly 11% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,367 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 $309 per month in Medellin and $238 in Astana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

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.

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.

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.

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.