😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,687 in Medellin versus $570 in Chirchiq.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,535 in Medellin versus $939 in Chirchiq.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,383 in Medellin versus $1,307 in Chirchiq.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 196% more expensive than in Chirchiq, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Chirchiq is 58% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Chirchiq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$6.85UZS 81.2K
15.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$33.85UZS 400.8K
31.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$4.99UZS 59.1K
86.17%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$2.52UZS 29.9K
15.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$0.69UZS 8,182
162.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$0.29UZS 3,479
434.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$1.50UZS 17.8K
116.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$3.42UZS 40.5K
71.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Chirchiq
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$1.22UZS 14.5K
13.11%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$0.77UZS 9,157
218.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$1.70UZS 20.2K
-11.18%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$1.85UZS 21.9K
50.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$8.41UZS 99.6K
7.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$4.38UZS 51.8K
143.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$12.73UZS 150.8K
14.93%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$1.47UZS 17.4K
170.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$1.80UZS 21.3K
-23.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$2.52UZS 29.9K
-8.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$1.70UZS 20.2K
18.82%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$0.60UZS 7,092
248.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$0.41UZS 4,873
297.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$1.10UZS 13.0K
-1.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$0.46UZS 5,443
171.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$1.97UZS 23.3K
104.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$6.68UZS 79.1K
101.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$1.34UZS 15.9K
19.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$3.52UZS 41.7K
-14.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Chirchiq
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$0.80UZS 9,521
101.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$0.34UZS 3,977
526.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$3.18UZS 37.6K
167.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$1.15UZS 13.7K
17.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$17.7KUZS 210.0M
59.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$24.2KUZS 286.1M
47.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Chirchiq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$65.7UZS 778.4K
130.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$4.41UZS 52.2K
197.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$12.60UZS 149.2K
156.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Chirchiq
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$5.80UZS 68.7K
10.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Chirchiq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$330UZS 3.9M
152.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$9,554UZS 113.1M
-6.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Chirchiq
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$51.5UZS 610.3K
73.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$61.7UZS 730.4K
-10.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$107UZS 1.3M
27.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$132UZS 1.6M
-17.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Chirchiq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Chirchiq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
23.31
-55.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Chirchiq: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Medellin vs $34.00 in Chirchiq for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $196 per month, with Chirchiq cheaper across the board.
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 Chirchiq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chirchiq cheaper than Medellin?
Chirchiq is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 196% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,530 in Medellin and $855 in Chirchiq to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $835 in Medellin versus $330 in Chirchiq. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Chirchiq?
Dining out is cheaper in Chirchiq – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $45.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Chirchiq?
At $570 in Chirchiq versus $1,687 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Chirchiq but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Chirchiq the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Chirchiq more family-friendly?
For families, Chirchiq is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Chirchiq gentler on the wallet – expenses run 196% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.