Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Qapshaghay and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Qapshaghay: $1,082 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Qapshaghay, Kazakhstan
Medellin, Colombia
Qapshaghay
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,082
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Qapshaghay and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Qapshaghay and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,082 per month in Qapshaghay vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Qapshaghay $1,082
  • Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $1,631 per month in Qapshaghay vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Qapshaghay $1,631
  • Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $2,180 per month in Qapshaghay vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Qapshaghay $2,180
  • Medellin $3,186

Qapshaghay is about 34% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Qapshaghay sits 20% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Qapshaghay
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.02 ₸4,990
$8.09 COP 26.1K
36.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.49 ₸10.2K
$47.05 COP 151.9K
-52.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.63 ₸3,002
$9.50 COP 30.7K
-30.21%
Cappuccino
$1.73 ₸783
$3.01 COP 9,734
-42.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 ₸458
$1.80 COP 5,809
-43.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₸318
$1.41 COP 4,560
-50.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.32 ₸596
$3.18 COP 10.3K
-58.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 ₸596
$5.75 COP 18.6K
-77.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Qapshaghay
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ₸779
$1.51 COP 4,875
13.91%
White Bread (500g)
$0.44 ₸199
$2.38 COP 7,677
-81.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.10 ₸951
$1.77 COP 5,719
18.64%
Eggs
$2.44 ₸1,105
$2.89 COP 9,332
-15.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.21 ₸5,533
$10.19 COP 32.9K
19.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.60 ₸2,991
$9.87 COP 31.9K
-33.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.80 ₸4,894
$13.99 COP 45.2K
-22.80%
Apples (1kg)
$1.81 ₸818
$3.97 COP 12.8K
-54.41%
Banana (1kg)
$2.39 ₸1,081
$1.55 COP 5,011
54.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.92 ₸1,322
$2.18 COP 7,047
33.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.70 ₸1,223
$2.18 COP 7,050
23.85%
Potato (1kg)
$0.80 ₸362
$1.96 COP 6,336
-59.18%
Onion (1kg)
$0.56 ₸252
$1.59 COP 5,131
-64.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.66 ₸752
$1.15 COP 3,698
44.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 ₸452
$1.24 COP 4,014
-19.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.66 ₸753
$3.96 COP 12.8K
-58.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.95 ₸4,959
$13.68 COP 44.2K
-19.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 ₸547
$1.66 COP 5,359
-27.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 ₸1,073
$2.26 COP 7,290
4.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Qapshaghay
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 ₸92.7
$1.17 COP 3,770
-82.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.05 ₸8,175
$77.4 COP 249.8K
-76.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 ₸383
$1.27 COP 4,094
-33.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 ₸315
$2.05 COP 6,611
-65.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.91 ₸1,771
$8.55 COP 27.6K
-54.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.60 ₸274
$1.35 COP 4,348
-55.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K ₸12.8M
$34.1K COP 110.0M
-16.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0K ₸14.1M
$34.7K COP 111.9M
-10.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qapshaghay
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.1 ₸41.3K
$170 COP 547.7K
-46.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.77 ₸4,880
$13.55 COP 43.7K
-20.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.05 ₸8,177
$28.07 COP 90.6K
-35.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Qapshaghay
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.86 ₸19.0K
$43.70 COP 141.1K
-4.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.19 COP 55.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.48 ₸2,937
$6.91 COP 22.3K
-6.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Qapshaghay
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$142 ₸64.5K
$797 COP 2.6M
-82.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,442 ₸2.0M
$9,112 COP 29.4M
-51.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Qapshaghay
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.2 ₸42.2K
$84.7 COP 273.5K
10.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.25 ₸22.3K
$58.0 COP 187.1K
-15.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$142 ₸64.2K
$135 COP 435.7K
5.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 ₸59.1K
$97.9 COP 316.0K
33.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Qapshaghay
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$443 ₸200.7K
$1,208 COP 3.9M
-63.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$308 ₸139.4K
$642 COP 2.1M
-52.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$721 ₸326.6K
$2,028 COP 6.5M
-64.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ₸227.8K
$1,012 COP 3.3M
-50.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,131 ₸512.2K
$4,170 COP 13.5M
-72.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$757 ₸342.7K
$1,910 COP 6.2M
-60.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Qapshaghay
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$657 COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.65
10.94
88.76%

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

Last update for Qapshaghay: October 24, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Qapshaghay
$308
Medellin
$642 108% $334
Groceries & Markets
Qapshaghay
$245
Medellin
$297 21.2% $52
Clothing & Footwear
Qapshaghay
$187
Medellin
$169 9.5% $18
Eating Out
Qapshaghay
$145
Medellin
$170 17.1% $25
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qapshaghay
$120
Medellin
$211 76.2% $91
Sport & Entertainment
Qapshaghay
$55
Medellin
$58 4.9% $2.7
Getting Around
Qapshaghay
$23
Medellin
$94 303% $70

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $443 in Qapshaghay versus $1,208 in Medellin. 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 $22 in Qapshaghay versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $245 vs $297 – making Qapshaghay the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇰🇿 Qapshaghay
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
21:46 9:46 PM
11:46 11:46 AM
10 h behind Qapshaghay
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
42,167
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to KZT – Kazakhstani Tenge Converter

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 453 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.21 USD). 1 EUR = 506 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.98 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,603 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Qapshaghay Medellin 13,800 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Qapshaghay
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Qapshaghay vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Qapshaghay cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 51%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,623 per month in Qapshaghay and $2,459 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Qapshaghay, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $443 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Qapshaghay or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $22 in Qapshaghay and $47 in Medellin. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Qapshaghay and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,082 in Qapshaghay and $1,639 in Medellin. That makes Qapshaghay about 34% cheaper.
Is $1,000 enough to cover costs in Qapshaghay or in Medellin?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,082 in Qapshaghay and $1,639 in Medellin. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Qapshaghay or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Qapshaghay – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Qapshaghay is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 34% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Qapshaghay vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?