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

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 20.9% more expensive than Shymkent without rent, and 51.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 28.6% more expensive than Shymkent without rent, and 44.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Shymkent
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14 COP 22.1K
$9.81 ₸4,614
-37.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05 COP 119.0K
$19.23 ₸9,047
71.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.32 COP 26.4K
$6.88 ₸3,237
6.40%
Cappuccino
$1.66 COP 5,972
$1.80 ₸847
-7.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,977
$1.03 ₸483
6.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,815
$0.41 ₸191
90.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 COP 6,173
$1.18 ₸557
44.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 11.4K
$1.88 ₸883
68.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Shymkent
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 COP 4,002
$1.15 ₸540
-3.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,708
$0.30 ₸142
336.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,968
$1.57 ₸739
-12.10%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 7,989
$1.50 ₸708
48.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.34 COP 15.6K
$7.89 ₸3,712
-44.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COP 20.9K
$4.40 ₸2,071
31.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.98 COP 32.3K
$6.44 ₸3,033
39.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 8,144
$1.03 ₸483
119.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,013
$1.87 ₸881
-40.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 COP 5,271
$1.89 ₸891
-22.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,917
$1.03 ₸483
33.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,999
$0.44 ₸209
152.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,189
$0.35 ₸163
231.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,203
$0.77 ₸363
15.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 COP 3,116
$0.67 ₸316
29.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 8,474
$1.90 ₸894
23.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.86 COP 39.1K
$4.31 ₸2,028
151.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,319
$1.02 ₸480
17.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 8,924
$1.35 ₸637
83.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Shymkent
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,835
$0.14 ₸65.0
464.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.77 COP 146.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 5,124
$0.90 ₸422
57.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,883
$0.68 ₸319
180.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.65 COP 27.5K
$5.89 ₸2,770
29.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,481
$0.50 ₸237
94.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COP 65.2M
$19.7K ₸9.2M
-7.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K COP 94.7M
$24.4K ₸11.5M
7.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Shymkent
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 COP 292.8K
$49.67 ₸23.4K
63.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63 COP 34.7K
$8.62 ₸4,056
11.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36 COP 87.7K
$12.89 ₸6,065
88.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Shymkent
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.02 COP 93.7K
$33.59 ₸15.8K
-22.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 COP 68.1K
$7.91 ₸3,721
139.19%
Cinema Ticket
$3.89 COP 14.0K
$4.95 ₸2,327
-21.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Shymkent
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 COP 1.1M
$48.85 ₸23.0K
522.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,902 COP 21.3M
$4,896 ₸2.3M
20.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Shymkent
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COP 211.3K
$33.15 ₸15.6K
77.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48 COP 117.0K
$30.12 ₸14.2K
7.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 366.4K
$118 ₸55.7K
-14.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 389.5K
$47.02 ₸22.1K
130.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Shymkent
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$474 COP 1.7M
$303 ₸142.4K
56.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COP 1.3M
$179 ₸84.4K
106.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$848 COP 3.1M
$466 ₸219.5K
81.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$362 ₸170.3K
97.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 COP 10.3M
$1,035 ₸487.0K
177.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,375 COP 5.0M
$944 ₸444.2K
45.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Shymkent
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$542 COP 1.9M
$413 ₸194.2K
31.20%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: April 13, 2026

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

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