Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Shahrisabz Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Shahrisabz

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $232 in Shahrisabz, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $411 in Shahrisabz, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $589 in Shahrisabz, rent included.

Medellin costs about 625% more than Shahrisabz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Shahrisabz is 83% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Shahrisabz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.4K
$2.93 UZS 34.7K
173.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 152.0K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 31.4K
$2.06 UZS 24.4K
380.10%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,937
$0.58 UZS 6,836
439.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 6,058
$0.49 UZS 5,770
289.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,794
$0.21 UZS 2,531
619.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,917
$0.98 UZS 11.6K
218.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.3K
$1.99 UZS 23.5K
188.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Shahrisabz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,587
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,894
$0.26 UZS 3,095
857.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,631
$2.02 UZS 23.9K
-12.38%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,396
$0.94 UZS 11.1K
214.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 32.0K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 32.1K
$2.03 UZS 24.1K
398.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 45.4K
$7.15 UZS 84.6K
100.00%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 13.1K
$0.68 UZS 8,090
508.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,106
$0.98 UZS 11.6K
64.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,129
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,150
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,486
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,873
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,715
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,148
$0.58 UZS 6,819
125.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.4K
$1.02 UZS 12.1K
282.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 44.5K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,534
$1.03 UZS 12.1K
68.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 9,112
$1.98 UZS 23.5K
44.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Shahrisabz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,858
$0.41 UZS 4,900
197.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 255.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,155
$0.42 UZS 4,918
211.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,944
$0.19 UZS 2,210
1052.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.7K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,334
$0.87 UZS 10.3K
57.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 88.4M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 113.6M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Shahrisabz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 562.9K
$47.03 UZS 556.6K
276.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 44.1K
$2.94 UZS 34.8K
372.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 94.4K
$9.13 UZS 108.0K
225.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Shahrisabz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 142.5K
$30.30 UZS 358.6K
48.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 54.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 21.1K
$6.87 UZS 81.3K
-3.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Shahrisabz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.6M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 29.2M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Shahrisabz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 284.1K
$11.87 UZS 140.5K
653.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 187.2K
$10.90 UZS 129.0K
441.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 438.8K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 324.2K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Shahrisabz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.4M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 6.0M
$198 UZS 2.3M
853.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.3M
$149 UZS 1.8M
591.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Shahrisabz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.2M
$413 UZS 4.9M
64.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
0
-

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Shahrisabz: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 64% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Shahrisabz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shahrisabz cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 625%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $348 in Shahrisabz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Shahrisabz?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $232 in Shahrisabz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Shahrisabz?
Groceries cost about 327% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Shahrisabz?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Shahrisabz, where all-in costs run around $232, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Shahrisabz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Shahrisabz more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Shahrisabz – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Shahrisabz?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Shahrisabz. 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.

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