😐A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $830 in Ekibastuz, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $1,328 in Ekibastuz, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $1,827 in Ekibastuz, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 103% more than Ekibastuz, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Ekibastuz is 39% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ekibastuz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$10.13₸4,631
-22.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$36.94₸16.9K
20.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$7.44₸3,399
24.87%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$1.56₸713
85.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$1.08₸493
67.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$0.66₸301
134.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$1.27₸579
155.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$2.14₸979
174.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ekibastuz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$1.25₸573
10.40%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$0.63₸287
288.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$1.75₸799
-13.71%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$2.20₸1,007
26.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$11.76₸5,376
-23.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$5.61₸2,562
89.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$10.03₸4,582
45.86%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$1.73₸789
129.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$2.41₸1,103
-42.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$2.18₸996
5.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$2.39₸1,093
-15.48%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$0.78₸358
167.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$0.46₸209
254.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$1.48₸679
-27.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$0.91₸416
37.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$2.15₸983
87.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$10.31₸4,714
30.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$1.24₸566
29.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$2.30₸1,053
30.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ekibastuz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$0.23₸104
413.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$1.11₸507
45.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$1.09₸500
95.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$6.68₸3,053
27.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$0.55₸249
145.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$23.5K₸10.7M
20.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$30.6K₸14.0M
16.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ekibastuz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$66.7₸30.5K
126.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$10.26₸4,689
27.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$17.37₸7,938
85.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ekibastuz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$6.07₸2,773
5.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ekibastuz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$368₸168.2K
126.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$11.0K₸5.0M
-19.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ekibastuz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$66.4₸30.3K
34.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$48.97₸22.4K
12.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$116₸53.2K
17.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$126₸57.6K
-13.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ekibastuz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$240₸109.8K
296.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$180₸82.2K
271.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$439₸200.9K
359.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$337₸154.1K
240.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ekibastuz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
$321₸146.6K
95.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
16.2
-35.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Ekibastuz: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $240 in Ekibastuz. 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 95% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin versus $37.00 in Ekibastuz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $223 – making Ekibastuz 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 Ekibastuz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Ekibastuz compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,687 in Medellin, $830 in Ekibastuz – roughly 103% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Ekibastuz?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,530 per month in Medellin and $1,244 in Ekibastuz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Ekibastuz?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ekibastuz, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Ekibastuz?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,687 in Medellin and $830 in Ekibastuz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Ekibastuz?
Kindergarten costs $835 per month in Medellin and $368 in Ekibastuz. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ekibastuz, where all-in costs run around $830, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Ekibastuz 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 Ekibastuz?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $830 in Ekibastuz to $1,687 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Medellin and Ekibastuz?
If budget matters most, go with Ekibastuz. 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.