😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,004 in Atyrau, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,703 in Atyrau, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $2,401 in Atyrau, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 67% more than Atyrau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Atyrau is 27% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Atyrau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$9.89₸4,432
-18.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$37.33₸16.7K
28.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$6.97₸3,127
41.89%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$2.12₸952
47.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$1.12₸501
70.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$0.78₸348
93.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$1.73₸774
80.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$2.18₸977
163.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Atyrau
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$1.74₸780
-17.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$0.48₸213
418.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$2.06₸924
-14.08%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$1.61₸721
83.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$11.14₸4,996
-9.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$8.82₸3,952
14.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$7.91₸3,545
80.78%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$1.77₸796
133.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$2.69₸1,207
-40.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$2.25₸1,008
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$1.84₸825
22.28%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$0.66₸296
209.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$0.46₸207
234.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$1.26₸564
-7.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$0.92₸413
42.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$2.39₸1,071
63.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$9.39₸4,212
49.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$1.39₸622
25.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$1.40₸627
105.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Atyrau
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$0.35₸157
248.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
$22.47₸10.1K
258.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$1.57₸705
-16.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$0.66₸298
231.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
$6.63₸2,973
31.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$0.64₸287
114.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$18.1K₸8.1M
53.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$29.7K₸13.3M
20.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Atyrau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$53.8₸24.1K
229.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$10.78₸4,834
28.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$14.51₸6,506
104.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Atyrau
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
$64.7₸29.0K
-30.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
$10.01₸4,489
71.03%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$6.18₸2,772
7.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Atyrau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$292₸131.1K
177.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$3,445₸1.5M
166.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Atyrau
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$32.89₸14.7K
172.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$43.89₸19.7K
34.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$88.8₸39.8K
55.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$89.3₸40.0K
14.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Atyrau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$521₸233.6K
103.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$346₸155.2K
91.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$1,111₸498.1K
69.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$782₸350.5K
31.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
$974₸436.8K
329.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$742₸332.5K
125.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Atyrau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$742₸332.4K
-8.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
30
-63.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Atyrau: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $521 in Atyrau. 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 9% higher in Atyrau, 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 Atyrau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $229 – making Atyrau 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 Atyrau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Atyrau compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,681 in Medellin, $1,004 in Atyrau – roughly 67% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Atyrau?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,507 in Atyrau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Atyrau?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Atyrau, 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 Medellin and Atyrau?
Kindergarten costs $813 per month in Medellin and $292 in Atyrau. 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 33% 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 Atyrau, where all-in costs run around $1,004, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Atyrau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Atyrau?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,004 in Atyrau to $1,681 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Medellin or Atyrau 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 Medellin and Atyrau?
If budget matters most, go with Atyrau. 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.