Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Semey Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Semey

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $689 in Semey, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,093 in Semey, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,497 in Semey, rent included.

Medellin costs about 48% more than Semey, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Semey are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Semey 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$4.49 ₸2,194

32.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$27.81 ₸13.6K

19.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$4.86 ₸2,375

48.77%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$1.59 ₸775

2.52%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.92 ₸448

18.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.55 ₸269

32.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.18 ₸578

47.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$1.81 ₸886

78.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$0.68 ₸332

54.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.32 ₸156

303.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.60 ₸780

-17.50%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.28 ₸623

77.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$8.91 ₸4,350

-51.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$4.63 ₸2,262

27.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$7.05 ₸3,441

22.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$1.34 ₸655

67.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.95 ₸950

-45.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.93 ₸943

-21.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.91 ₸933

-25.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.55 ₸266

112.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.38 ₸184

207.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.94 ₸461

-5.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.76 ₸372

18.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$2.57 ₸1,253

-12.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$6.68 ₸3,263

65.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$0.98 ₸479

16.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$1.54 ₸753

54.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.22 ₸109

281.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.95 ₸465

48.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.67 ₸326

183.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$4.76 ₸2,326

62.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.47 ₸228

114.89%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$20.4K ₸10.0M

-13.74%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$24.6K ₸12.0M

7.67%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$50.4 ₸24.6K

65.90%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$8.66 ₸4,232

9.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$12.96 ₸6,330

86.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$33.37 ₸16.3K

-24.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$9.92 ₸4,846

92.94%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$4.35 ₸2,125

-5.75%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$212 ₸103.6K

47.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$4,930 ₸2.4M

21.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$57.1 ₸27.9K

1.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$34.79 ₸17.0K

-6.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$87.3 ₸42.6K

14.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$78.4 ₸38.3K

38.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$320 ₸156.2K

50.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$199 ₸97.4K

90.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$518 ₸252.9K

61.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$395 ₸192.9K

83.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

18.39

-26.97%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Semey: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $320 in Semey. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $28.00 in Semey. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $165 – making Semey 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 Semey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 48%, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,034 in Semey. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Semey, 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 $28.00 in Semey. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Semey, where all-in costs run around $689, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Semey it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Semey – 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 Semey. 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.