😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,687 in Medellin versus $668 in Khujand.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,535 in Medellin versus $1,041 in Khujand.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,383 in Medellin versus $1,414 in Khujand.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 153% more expensive than in Khujand, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Khujand is 51% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Khujand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.1K
$5.25TJS 48.64
50.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 135.8K
$16.21TJS 150
174.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.3K
$5.46TJS 50.6
70.15%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,828
$1.06TJS 9.84
173.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,512
$0.49TJS 4.53
269.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,716
$0.30TJS 2.79
416.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,911
$1.05TJS 9.72
209.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 17.9K
$2.22TJS 20.50
164.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Khujand
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,208
$1.04TJS 9.60
32.69%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,478
$0.51TJS 4.74
380.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,593
$2.03TJS 18.82
-25.62%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,472
$1.73TJS 16.06
60.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.6K
$9.60TJS 88.8
-5.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.5K
$3.27TJS 30.22
225.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.6K
$11.18TJS 103
30.86%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.1K
$1.43TJS 13.21
177.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,198
$2.35TJS 21.80
-41.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,019
$2.34TJS 21.67
-1.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,153
$0.69TJS 6.37
192.75%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,357
$0.57TJS 5.23
266.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,971
$0.37TJS 3.39
340.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,295
$0.85TJS 7.88
27.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,823
$0.54TJS 5.04
131.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.3K
$2.19TJS 20.30
84.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.1K
$11.76TJS 109
14.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,879
$1.54TJS 14.26
3.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,141
$2.05TJS 19.01
46.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Khujand
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,593
$0.31TJS 2.86
280.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 243.7K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,895
$1.05TJS 9.76
53.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,500
$0.31TJS 2.85
587.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.0K
$5.37TJS 49.72
58.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,121
$1.07TJS 9.89
26.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.3M
$16.2KTJS 150.3K
74.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 108.8M
$17.4KTJS 160.9K
105.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Khujand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 461.4K
$35.80TJS 331
322.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 39.9K
$7.64TJS 70.7
71.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 98.4K
$17.27TJS 160
87.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Khujand
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.2K
$25.94TJS 240
78.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.6K
$16.32TJS 151
5.76%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.6K
$3.85TJS 35.60
67.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Khujand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.5M
$84.8TJS 784
885.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.1M
$5,685TJS 52.6K
56.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Khujand
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 272.3K
$20.64TJS 191
332.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 168.6K
$27.12TJS 251
103.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 416.3K
$43.37TJS 401
214.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 333.4K
$53.1TJS 492
105.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Khujand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$266TJS 2,465
257.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$221TJS 2,042
202.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$505TJS 4,673
300.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$432TJS 4,003
165.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
$702TJS 6,498
426.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.8M
$487TJS 4,512
225.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Khujand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
$450TJS 4,167
38.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
22
-52.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Khujand: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $952 in Medellin and $266 in Khujand. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 39% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Medellin vs $16.00 in Khujand for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $191 per month, with Khujand 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 Khujand: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Khujand?
Medellin and Khujand differ by about 153% in total monthly costs ($1,687 vs $668 including rent). Khujand is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Medellin or Khujand?
Average pay runs 39% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Khujand?
Rent for a central apartment: $952 in Medellin versus $266 in Khujand. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Khujand?
Childcare runs $835 in Medellin versus $84.8 in Khujand. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Khujand – a meal for two runs $16.00 versus $45.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $668 in Khujand versus $1,687 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Khujand but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Khujand the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Khujand?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Medellin or Khujand safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Khujand are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Khujand?
Expats usually find Khujand gentler on the wallet – expenses run 153% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.