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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $395 in Qarshi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $647 in Qarshi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $899 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 23% lower, Qarshi 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$4.75 UZS 57.2K

24.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$21.01 UZS 253.0K

55.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$8.53 UZS 102.7K

-15.59%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$1.71 UZS 20.6K

-0.58%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$0.45 UZS 5,454

144.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.27 UZS 3,255

166.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$0.62 UZS 7,432

169.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$1.60 UZS 19.3K

-13.13%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$1.39 UZS 16.8K

62.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$6.00 UZS 72.2K

47.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$0.48 UZS 5,808

366.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$1.68 UZS 20.3K

-35.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$1.71 UZS 20.5K

-10.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$0.23 UZS 2,765

391.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.43 UZS 5,178

111.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$2.57 UZS 30.9K

-9.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$0.18 UZS 2,117

338.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

$9.43 UZS 113.5K

336.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$0.32 UZS 3,889

496.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$4.19 UZS 50.5K

129.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$31.47 UZS 379.0K

-17.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

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

$306 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$212 UZS 2.6M

129.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$194 UZS 2.3M

89.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$505 UZS 6.1M

63.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$400 UZS 4.8M

78.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$346 UZS 4.2M

57.89%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Qarshi: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $212 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 58% 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: $190 vs $55.0 – 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $593 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 336% less in Qarshi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 244% 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 $395, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.