Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Oskemen Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Oskemen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $736 in Oskemen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,188 in Oskemen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,639 in Oskemen, rent included.

Medellin costs about 38% more than Oskemen, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Oskemen are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Oskemen 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$3.95 ₸1,926

51.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.2K

$18.49 ₸9,007

77.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$3.43 ₸1,673

106.71%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,105

$2.00 ₸975

-14.50%

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

$1.10 COP 3,918

$0.80 ₸388

37.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,776

$0.52 ₸254

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,987

$1.34 ₸655

25.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$1.45 ₸706

111.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,899

$1.09 ₸533

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,500

$0.43 ₸211

193.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,914

$1.14 ₸556

21.05%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,813

$1.60 ₸777

36.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$7.66 ₸3,730

-42.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$4.37 ₸2,130

28.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.7K

$6.81 ₸3,319

30.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,334

$1.15 ₸561

103.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,771

$1.81 ₸884

-41.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,365

$2.38 ₸1,161

-36.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,915

$2.57 ₸1,250

-46.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,104

$0.61 ₸296

88.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,148

$0.47 ₸227

146.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,176

$0.30 ₸148

196.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,992

$0.73 ₸357

15.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,131

$1.99 ₸969

14.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$4.65 ₸2,265

128.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,276

$1.33 ₸649

-9.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

$1.50 ₸730

64.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

$0.21 ₸102

309.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,255

$1.01 ₸494

45.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,997

$0.29 ₸141

575.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$2.12 ₸1,034

265.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,403

$0.46 ₸224

106.52%

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

$18.1K COP 64.6M

$28.1K ₸13.7M

-35.58%

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

$26.5K COP 94.4M

$27.0K ₸13.2M

-1.92%

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

$82.3 COP 293.2K

$41.44 ₸20.2K

98.48%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$9.96 ₸4,851

-4.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.4K

$16.59 ₸8,082

46.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

$23.36 ₸11.4K

10.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

$17.33 ₸8,444

9.64%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$4.38 ₸2,134

-10.27%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$58.3 ₸28.4K

430.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$2,510 ₸1.2M

137.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.1K

$119 ₸58.0K

-50.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.3K

$82.8 ₸40.3K

-60.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.7K

$98.0 ₸47.7K

4.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 386.5K

$94.0 ₸45.8K

15.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$331 ₸161.4K

43.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$221 ₸107.7K

71.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$537 ₸261.7K

56.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$468 ₸227.8K

54.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

$1,008 ₸491.2K

176.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$778 ₸378.8K

55.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$751 ₸366.1K

-31.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-29.32%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Oskemen: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $331 in Oskemen. 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 47% higher in Oskemen, 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 $18.00 in Oskemen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $162 – making Oskemen 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 Oskemen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 38%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,104 in Oskemen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $18.00 in Oskemen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% 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 Oskemen, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Oskemen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Oskemen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Oskemen. 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.