πA single person spends $1,028 per month in Medellin vs $887 in Atyrau, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $1,514 in Atyrau, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,144 per month in Medellin vs $2,141 in Atyrau, rent included.
πMedellin costs about 16% more than Atyrau, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
πBoth Medellin and Atyrau are more affordable than the global median β Medellin23% lower, Atyrau33% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Atyrau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.00COPΒ 20.6K
$8.90βΈ4,339
-32.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.84COPΒ 112.5K
$31.80βΈ15.5K
3.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.42COPΒ 25.4K
$6.00βΈ2,927
23.67%
Cappuccino
$1.65COPΒ 5,659
$1.83βΈ892
-9.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07COPΒ 3,663
$1.11βΈ541
-3.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76COPΒ 2,607
$0.74βΈ359
2.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COPΒ 5,908
$1.49βΈ725
15.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20COPΒ 11.0K
$1.88βΈ918
70.21%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Atyrau
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,597
$1.45βΈ706
-27.59%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COPΒ 4,479
$0.41βΈ198
219.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34COPΒ 4,591
$1.57βΈ767
-14.65%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,521
$1.43βΈ696
53.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.41COPΒ 15.1K
$9.09βΈ4,433
-51.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.69COPΒ 19.5K
$7.63βΈ3,721
-25.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.52COPΒ 29.2K
$7.00βΈ3,414
21.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,023
$1.52βΈ744
53.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COPΒ 3,804
$2.31βΈ1,128
-51.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,210
$1.96βΈ955
-22.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPΒ 4,680
$1.47βΈ715
-6.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 3,950
$0.58βΈ284
98.28%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18COPΒ 4,043
$0.40βΈ193
195.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84COPΒ 2,885
$1.09βΈ533
-22.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86COPΒ 2,931
$1.30βΈ632
-33.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26COPΒ 7,753
$2.09βΈ1,018
8.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.60COPΒ 39.8K
$8.45βΈ4,120
37.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,109
$1.21βΈ591
-0.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COPΒ 8,484
$1.23βΈ599
101.63%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Atyrau
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,721
$0.30βΈ148
163.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.83COPΒ 139.9K
$19.69βΈ9,601
107.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,023
$1.38βΈ673
6.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COPΒ 6,568
$0.23βΈ112
734.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.77COPΒ 26.6K
$5.74βΈ2,801
35.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,464
$0.46βΈ223
119.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOPΒ 60.5M
$15.8KβΈ7.7M
11.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 90.7M
$23.0KβΈ11.2M
15.10%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Atyrau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.1COPΒ 277.9K
$46.20βΈ22.5K
75.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.43COPΒ 32.3K
$9.86βΈ4,808
-4.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.86COPΒ 81.8K
$12.94βΈ6,310
84.39%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Atyrau
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.99COPΒ 89.1K
$58.0βΈ28.3K
-55.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71COPΒ 64.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.09COPΒ 14.0K
$5.33βΈ2,600
-23.26%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Atyrau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$315COPΒ 1.1M
$252βΈ123.1K
24.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,022COPΒ 20.6M
$3,029βΈ1.5M
98.84%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Atyrau
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7COPΒ 204.6K
$29.40βΈ14.3K
103.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.97COPΒ 109.6K
$38.44βΈ18.7K
-16.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COPΒ 346.9K
$77.2βΈ37.7K
31.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105COPΒ 360.3K
$77.6βΈ37.8K
35.47%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Atyrau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$485COPΒ 1.7M
$454βΈ221.2K
7.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$365COPΒ 1.3M
$299βΈ145.7K
22.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$827COPΒ 2.8M
$995βΈ485.1K
-16.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COPΒ 2.5M
$769βΈ374.8K
-4.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,992COPΒ 10.3M
$826βΈ402.8K
262.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,314COPΒ 4.5M
$634βΈ309.0K
107.39%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Atyrau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$551COPΒ 1.9M
$675βΈ329.2K
-18.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
30
-55.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026
Last update for Atyrau: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Medellin versus $454 in Atyrau. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 23% higher in Atyrau, which reinforces the cost advantage β you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $32.00 in Atyrau. Groceries tell a different story β $190 in Medellin vs $202 in Atyrau β so Medellin 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 Atyrau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and Atyrau compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,028 in Medellin, $887 in Atyrau β roughly 16% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Atyrau?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,542 per month in Medellin and $1,331 in Atyrau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β 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 $315 per month in Medellin and $252 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?
Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Medellin β one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
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 $887, than in Medellin at $1,028. 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 $887 in Atyrau to $1,028 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 β 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.