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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $944 per month in Dushanbe vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,388 per month in Dushanbe vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,833 per month in Dushanbe vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Dushanbe is about 45% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Dushanbe sits 31% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 TJS 49.85

$8.03 COP 25.3K

-32.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.42 TJS 152

$48.26 COP 152.3K

-65.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 TJS 50.3

$9.77 COP 30.8K

-44.32%

Cappuccino

$1.77 TJS 16.39

$2.91 COP 9,185

-39.18%

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

$0.60 TJS 5.54

$1.94 COP 6,134

-69.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 TJS 3.69

$1.52 COP 4,801

-73.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.10 TJS 10.19

$3.09 COP 9,759

-64.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 TJS 19.58

$5.74 COP 18.1K

-63.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 TJS 9.77

$1.36 COP 4,304

-22.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 TJS 5.64

$2.39 COP 7,534

-74.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 TJS 20.76

$1.70 COP 5,366

32.35%

Eggs

$1.74 TJS 16.09

$2.87 COP 9,056

-39.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.64 TJS 89.1

$9.94 COP 31.4K

-3.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.98 TJS 36.84

$10.78 COP 34.0K

-63.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.50 TJS 106

$14.73 COP 46.5K

-21.93%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 TJS 16.64

$4.09 COP 12.9K

-55.99%

Banana (1kg)

$2.87 TJS 26.54

$1.57 COP 4,960

82.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 TJS 21.26

$2.13 COP 6,708

7.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 TJS 11.13

$2.21 COP 6,985

-45.70%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 TJS 5.70

$2.05 COP 6,460

-69.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 TJS 3.41

$1.50 COP 4,747

-75.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 TJS 8.13

$1.19 COP 3,755

-26.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 TJS 5.42

$1.16 COP 3,654

-49.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.46 TJS 41.24

$3.90 COP 12.3K

14.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.89 TJS 110

$14.44 COP 45.6K

-17.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 TJS 14.65

$1.58 COP 4,997

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 TJS 19.67

$2.83 COP 8,923

-24.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 TJS 2.60

$1.17 COP 3,686

-76.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.13 TJS 306

$77.7 COP 245.3K

-57.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.05 TJS 9.72

$1.28 COP 4,054

-17.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 TJS 2.91

$2.09 COP 6,602

-85.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.38 TJS 59.0

$8.62 COP 27.2K

-25.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 TJS 10.98

$1.30 COP 4,096

-8.46%

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

$16.0K TJS 148.3K

$27.7K COP 87.3M

-42.04%

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

$24.0K TJS 221.7K

$35.5K COP 112.0M

-32.47%

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

$68.0 TJS 629

$176 COP 555.6K

-61.40%

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

$10.05 TJS 93.0

$13.37 COP 42.2K

-24.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.95 TJS 157

$29.89 COP 94.3K

-43.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.38 TJS 429

$44.76 COP 141.2K

3.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.36 TJS 133

$17.06 COP 53.8K

-15.83%

Cinema Ticket

$5.45 TJS 50.4

$6.20 COP 19.6K

-12.10%

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

$81.9 TJS 758

$793 COP 2.5M

-89.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,596 TJS 51.7K

$9,019 COP 28.5M

-37.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.33 TJS 225

$85.6 COP 270.1K

-71.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 TJS 481

$58.5 COP 184.5K

-11.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.2 TJS 705

$136 COP 430.1K

-44.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.2 TJS 520

$103 COP 325.4K

-45.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$618 TJS 5,712

$1,060 COP 3.3M

-41.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 TJS 3,226

$680 COP 2.1M

-48.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$897 TJS 8,297

$2,012 COP 6.3M

-55.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$549 TJS 5,082

$1,169 COP 3.7M

-52.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,307 TJS 12.1K

$4,111 COP 13.0M

-68.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$711 TJS 6,572

$1,701 COP 5.4M

-58.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$434 TJS 4,010

$665 COP 2.1M

-34.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

23.17

10.94

111.79%

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

Last update for Dushanbe: August 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $618 in Dushanbe versus $1,060 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 53% 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 $16.00 in Dushanbe versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $303 – making Dushanbe 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

Dushanbe vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 82%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,416 per month in Dushanbe and $2,574 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 $81.9 per month in Dushanbe and $793 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 47% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dushanbe, where all-in costs run around $944, than in Medellin at $1,716. 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.