Cost of Living Comparison Between Dushanbe and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Dushanbe and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $788 per month in Dushanbe vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,191 per month in Dushanbe vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,594 per month in Dushanbe vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Dushanbe is about 24% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Dushanbe and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Dushanbe 41% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.06 TJS 56.1

$6.16 COP 20.0K

-1.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.07 TJS 139

$32.60 COP 106.0K

-53.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.81 TJS 81.5

$7.34 COP 23.9K

20.03%

Cappuccino

$2.02 TJS 18.67

$1.72 COP 5,592

17.44%

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

$0.62 TJS 5.77

$1.05 COP 3,416

-40.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 TJS 2.77

$0.77 COP 2,511

-61.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 TJS 11.26

$1.69 COP 5,480

-27.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 TJS 18.85

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-35.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 TJS 9.06

$1.05 COP 3,418

-6.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 TJS 5.27

$1.30 COP 4,230

-56.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 TJS 18.05

$1.40 COP 4,538

39.29%

Eggs

$1.86 TJS 17.16

$2.16 COP 7,037

-13.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 TJS 84.9

$4.39 COP 14.3K

109.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.46 TJS 41.22

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-24.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.28 TJS 85.9

$8.64 COP 28.1K

7.41%

Apples (1kg)

$1.71 TJS 15.86

$2.28 COP 7,415

-25.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 TJS 23.72

$1.11 COP 3,599

130.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 TJS 23.62

$1.53 COP 4,976

66.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 TJS 11.95

$1.35 COP 4,405

-4.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 TJS 7.32

$1.13 COP 3,669

-30.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 TJS 5.07

$1.13 COP 3,687

-51.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 TJS 7.27

$0.85 COP 2,749

-7.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 TJS 5.89

$0.91 COP 2,971

-29.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 TJS 23.35

$2.34 COP 7,619

7.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.28 TJS 104

$12.37 COP 40.2K

-8.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 TJS 13.27

$1.20 COP 3,904

19.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 TJS 20.59

$2.49 COP 8,094

-10.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 TJS 2.42

$0.84 COP 2,724

-69.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.98 TJS 92.3

$40.57 COP 131.9K

-75.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 TJS 8.96

$1.42 COP 4,617

-31.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 TJS 2.49

$1.92 COP 6,227

-85.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.91 TJS 54.7

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-22.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 TJS 9.04

$0.99 COP 3,219

-1.01%

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

$18.4K TJS 170.5K

$18.0K COP 58.6M

2.26%

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

$25.9K TJS 239.6K

$26.6K COP 86.6M

-2.73%

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

$50.9 TJS 470

$80.8 COP 262.7K

-37.06%

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

$13.67 TJS 126

$9.95 COP 32.3K

37.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.90 TJS 221

$24.18 COP 78.6K

-1.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.81 TJS 368

$25.08 COP 81.5K

58.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.08 TJS 84.0

$19.15 COP 62.3K

-52.58%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 TJS 46.08

$3.98 COP 13.0K

25.13%

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

$101 TJS 930

$305 COP 992.2K

-67.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K TJS 132.2K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

135.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.38 TJS 281

$58.1 COP 189.0K

-47.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.49 TJS 356

$32.20 COP 104.7K

19.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.5 TJS 698

$101 COP 327.5K

-25.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.2 TJS 502

$108 COP 350.3K

-49.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 TJS 4,118

$477 COP 1.5M

-6.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 TJS 2,175

$376 COP 1.2M

-37.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$760 TJS 7,032

$845 COP 2.7M

-10.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$416 TJS 3,847

$730 COP 2.4M

-43.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,301 TJS 12.0K

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-59.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$695 TJS 6,426

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-49.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$436 TJS 4,029

$617 COP 2.0M

-29.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.75

13.43

91.73%

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

Last update for Dushanbe: July 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $445 in Dushanbe versus $477 in Medellin. 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 42% 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 $15.00 in Dushanbe versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $197 in Dushanbe vs $193 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Dushanbe vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,182 per month in Dushanbe and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dushanbe, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $101 per month in Dushanbe and $305 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dushanbe, where all-in costs run around $788, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Dushanbe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dushanbe – 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 Dushanbe. 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.