Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Karaganda Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Karaganda

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $752 in Karaganda, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,187 in Karaganda, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,623 in Karaganda, rent included.

Medellin costs about 35% more than Karaganda, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Karaganda are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Karaganda 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$8.53 ₸4,180

-29.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$29.67 ₸14.5K

10.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$4.97 ₸2,437

42.66%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$1.85 ₸907

-7.57%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$0.70 ₸343

57.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$0.47 ₸228

65.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$0.95 ₸467

76.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$3.01 ₸1,473

1.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$0.94 ₸463

15.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$0.44 ₸215

186.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.30 ₸638

6.15%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$1.73 ₸845

26.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$9.48 ₸4,644

-53.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$4.24 ₸2,079

32.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$7.25 ₸3,555

22.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$1.32 ₸646

77.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$1.45 ₸711

-26.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$1.89 ₸929

-20.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$1.98 ₸971

-30.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$0.56 ₸273

105.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$0.41 ₸200

182.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$0.99 ₸486

-10.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.76 ₸372

10.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$1.79 ₸878

27.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$7.87 ₸3,857

35.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$0.99 ₸487

21.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$1.65 ₸807

49.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$0.22 ₸108

290.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$11.56 ₸5,666

258.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$1.78 ₸872

-17.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$0.45 ₸222

335.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$4.38 ₸2,148

76.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$0.45 ₸219

111.11%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$19.0K ₸9.3M

-4.61%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$25.1K ₸12.3M

5.51%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$53.9 ₸26.4K

52.60%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$8.04 ₸3,941

18.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$13.00 ₸6,372

86.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$32.29 ₸15.8K

-19.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$11.76 ₸5,764

61.56%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$4.47 ₸2,191

-12.08%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$240 ₸117.4K

29.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$4,875 ₸2.4M

22.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$55.6 ₸27.2K

5.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$35.64 ₸17.5K

-9.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$86.6 ₸42.5K

18.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$83.9 ₸41.1K

29.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$333 ₸163.0K

43.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$210 ₸102.9K

80.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$569 ₸279.0K

47.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$400 ₸195.8K

81.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$977 ₸478.5K

185.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$653 ₸319.8K

85.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$523 ₸256.2K

-2.09%

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 Karaganda: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $333 in Karaganda. 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 2% higher in Karaganda, 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 $30.00 in Karaganda. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $170 – making Karaganda 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 Karaganda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,013 in Medellin, $752 in Karaganda – roughly 35% 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 $1,127 in Karaganda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Karaganda, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 258% less in Karaganda. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Medellin and $240 in Karaganda. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Karaganda, where all-in costs run around $752, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Karaganda 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 $752 in Karaganda to $1,013 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Karaganda. 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.