Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Chirchiq Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Chirchiq

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$7.89 COP 24.2K
$6.85 UZS 81.2K
15.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53 COP 136.5K
$33.85 UZS 400.8K
31.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.29 COP 28.5K
$4.99 UZS 59.1K
86.17%
Cappuccino
$2.90 COP 8,874
$2.52 UZS 29.9K
15.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 COP 5,541
$0.69 UZS 8,182
162.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 COP 4,741
$0.29 UZS 3,479
434.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 COP 9,962
$1.50 UZS 17.8K
116.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 COP 18.0K
$3.42 UZS 40.5K
71.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Chirchiq
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 COP 4,230
$1.22 UZS 14.5K
13.11%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 COP 7,517
$0.77 UZS 9,157
218.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,617
$1.70 UZS 20.2K
-11.18%
Eggs
$2.78 COP 8,516
$1.85 UZS 21.9K
50.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.05 COP 27.7K
$8.41 UZS 99.6K
7.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.65 COP 32.6K
$4.38 UZS 51.8K
143.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.63 COP 44.8K
$12.73 UZS 150.8K
14.93%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.2K
$1.47 UZS 17.4K
170.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,219
$1.80 UZS 21.3K
-23.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,056
$2.52 UZS 29.9K
-8.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.02 COP 6,185
$1.70 UZS 20.2K
18.82%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 COP 6,390
$0.60 UZS 7,092
248.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.63 COP 4,996
$0.41 UZS 4,873
297.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 COP 3,313
$1.10 UZS 13.0K
-1.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,843
$0.46 UZS 5,443
171.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03 COP 12.4K
$1.97 UZS 23.3K
104.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.47 COP 41.3K
$6.68 UZS 79.1K
101.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 4,904
$1.34 UZS 15.9K
19.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 COP 9,189
$3.52 UZS 41.7K
-14.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Chirchiq
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,611
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.9 COP 244.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.61 COP 4,920
$0.80 UZS 9,521
101.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,533
$0.34 UZS 3,977
526.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 COP 26.1K
$3.18 UZS 37.6K
167.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,142
$1.15 UZS 13.7K
17.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K COP 86.8M
$17.7K UZS 210.0M
59.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7K COP 109.4M
$24.2K UZS 286.1M
47.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Chirchiq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 COP 463.8K
$65.7 UZS 778.4K
130.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10 COP 40.1K
$4.41 UZS 52.2K
197.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30 COP 99.0K
$12.60 UZS 149.2K
156.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Chirchiq
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.33 COP 141.9K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26 COP 52.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.43 COP 19.7K
$5.80 UZS 68.7K
10.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Chirchiq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$835 COP 2.6M
$330 UZS 3.9M
152.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,887 COP 27.2M
$9,554 UZS 113.1M
-6.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Chirchiq
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3 COP 273.7K
$51.5 UZS 610.3K
73.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3 COP 169.5K
$61.7 UZS 730.4K
-10.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 418.5K
$107 UZS 1.3M
27.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 COP 335.1K
$132 UZS 1.6M
-17.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Chirchiq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 COP 2.9M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$668 COP 2.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 COP 6.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 COP 3.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,696 COP 11.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,586 COP 4.9M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Chirchiq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$625 COP 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.

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