Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Shymkent Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Shymkent

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 30.9% more expensive than Shymkent without rent, and 50.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 13.4% more expensive than Shymkent without rent, and 43% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Shymkent
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COP 22.9K
$9.80 ₸4,872
-38.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 125.7K
$19.33 ₸9,612
71.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COP 27.6K
$6.88 ₸3,421
5.96%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 6,174
$1.85 ₸921
-11.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,974
$0.96 ₸476
9.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,918
$0.44 ₸217
75.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COP 6,554
$1.15 ₸573
50.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 12.0K
$1.81 ₸900
75.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Shymkent
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COP 4,043
$1.12 ₸556
-4.46%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,968
$0.30 ₸149
336.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 5,230
$1.62 ₸805
-14.81%
Eggs
$2.25 COP 8,515
$1.50 ₸745
50.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COP 17.0K
$8.21 ₸4,083
-45.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COP 21.7K
$4.34 ₸2,160
32.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COP 33.6K
$6.28 ₸3,120
41.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,496
$0.94 ₸466
138.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 4,015
$1.84 ₸917
-42.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,736
$1.89 ₸942
-20.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 5,154
$0.99 ₸492
37.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,247
$0.44 ₸220
154.55%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,430
$0.34 ₸171
244.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 3,418
$0.77 ₸384
16.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,171
$0.63 ₸313
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 8,559
$1.96 ₸975
15.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COP 37.8K
$4.08 ₸2,029
144.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,482
$0.96 ₸477
22.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COP 9,054
$1.35 ₸673
77.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Shymkent
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,255
$0.13 ₸64.7
561.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COP 157.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,559
$0.90 ₸446
63.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 7,372
$0.68 ₸339
186.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COP 29.4K
$5.83 ₸2,899
33.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,665
$0.49 ₸246
97.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 68.0M
$19.8K ₸9.9M
-9.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COP 101.2M
$24.3K ₸12.1M
9.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Shymkent
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 307.3K
$49.40 ₸24.6K
64.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COP 35.6K
$8.72 ₸4,334
7.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COP 89.4K
$12.54 ₸6,232
88.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Shymkent
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COP 96.8K
$33.89 ₸16.8K
-24.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COP 73.1K
$7.69 ₸3,821
150.85%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COP 15.5K
$4.98 ₸2,476
-17.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Shymkent
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.2M
$49.41 ₸24.6K
519.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COP 22.3M
$4,849 ₸2.4M
21.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Shymkent
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COP 226.6K
$32.90 ₸16.4K
81.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COP 121.1K
$29.59 ₸14.7K
8.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 389.1K
$120 ₸59.4K
-14.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 408.7K
$46.41 ₸23.1K
132.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Shymkent
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COP 1.8M
$303 ₸150.8K
59.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COP 1.4M
$173 ₸86.0K
118.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COP 3.1M
$467 ₸232.0K
76.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COP 2.7M
$361 ₸179.7K
99.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 COP 10.5M
$998 ₸495.9K
179.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,320 COP 5.0M
$897 ₸445.9K
47.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Shymkent
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$538 COP 2.0M
$403 ₸200.2K
33.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
19.5
-31.13%

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

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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