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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $678 in Shymkent, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,076 in Shymkent, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,473 in Shymkent, rent included.

Medellin costs about 52% more than Shymkent, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Shymkent are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Shymkent 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$9.93 ₸4,669

-37.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$19.90 ₸9,353

63.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$6.99 ₸3,287

5.01%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$1.85 ₸868

-7.03%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.99 ₸467

6.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.41 ₸192

87.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$1.15 ₸542

46.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$1.91 ₸898

65.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.15 ₸541

-8.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$0.30 ₸142

333.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.63 ₸767

-14.11%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$1.44 ₸676

50.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$7.92 ₸3,724

-44.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$4.18 ₸1,967

40.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$6.47 ₸3,042

33.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$0.96 ₸450

137.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$1.78 ₸837

-37.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$1.91 ₸896

-19.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$1.02 ₸480

32.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$0.48 ₸224

135.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$0.38 ₸178

197.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$0.79 ₸373

7.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.69 ₸322

31.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$1.99 ₸937

17.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$4.33 ₸2,034

185.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$0.94 ₸443

27.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$1.33 ₸627

87.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$0.14 ₸64.0

500.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$0.89 ₸418

59.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$0.62 ₸294

209.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$5.80 ₸2,724

32.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$0.50 ₸234

98.00%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$19.3K ₸9.1M

-6.67%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$23.9K ₸11.2M

11.46%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$50.4 ₸23.7K

60.21%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$8.64 ₸4,060

15.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$12.73 ₸5,981

89.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$33.03 ₸15.5K

-24.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$7.81 ₸3,670

145.20%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$5.04 ₸2,367

-21.03%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$48.24 ₸22.7K

532.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$4,849 ₸2.3M

24.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$33.02 ₸15.5K

76.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$29.87 ₸14.0K

7.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$120 ₸56.4K

-16.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$46.86 ₸22.0K

129.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$297 ₸139.7K

60.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$174 ₸81.7K

116.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$475 ₸223.2K

77.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$365 ₸171.5K

100.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$1,039 ₸488.5K

209.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$935 ₸439.7K

46.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$415 ₸195.2K

48.52%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $297 in Shymkent. 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 49% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $20.00 in Shymkent. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $149 – making Shymkent 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 Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 52%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,018 in Shymkent. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Shymkent, 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 $20.00 in Shymkent. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 30% 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 Shymkent, where all-in costs run around $678, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Shymkent it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Shymkent. 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.