Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Qarshi Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Qarshi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $384 in Qarshi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $647 in Qarshi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $911 in Qarshi, rent included.

Medellin costs about 161% more than Qarshi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Qarshi are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Qarshi 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$4.70 UZS 56.2K

25.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$20.76 UZS 248.2K

58.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$8.74 UZS 104.5K

-14.99%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$1.69 UZS 20.3K

-2.37%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.46 UZS 5,492

139.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.25 UZS 2,983

212.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$0.61 UZS 7,314

181.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.66 UZS 19.9K

-16.87%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.39 UZS 16.6K

56.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$6.03 UZS 72.1K

48.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$0.46 UZS 5,488

404.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.75 UZS 20.9K

-39.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.76 UZS 21.1K

-13.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.25 UZS 2,992

352.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.43 UZS 5,135

109.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$2.52 UZS 30.1K

-11.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.19 UZS 2,312

347.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$9.46 UZS 113.1K

339.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.29 UZS 3,526

572.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$4.12 UZS 49.2K

135.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$31.54 UZS 377.0K

-19.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

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

$316 COP 994.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$214 UZS 2.6M

121.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$196 UZS 2.3M

91.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$515 UZS 6.2M

65.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$397 UZS 4.7M

81.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$356 UZS 4.3M

75.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Qarshi: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $214 in Qarshi. 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 75% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $21.00 in Qarshi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $56.0 – making Qarshi 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

Medellin vs Qarshi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 161%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $575 in Qarshi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 340% less in Qarshi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 245% 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 Qarshi, where all-in costs run around $384, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Qarshi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Qarshi – 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 Qarshi. 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.