Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Uzgen Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Uzgen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $371 in Uzgen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $614 in Uzgen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $857 in Uzgen, rent included.

Medellin costs about 354% more than Uzgen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Uzgen is 73% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Uzgen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.0K
$4.50 KGS 393
78.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 149.4K
$23.26 KGS 2,033
105.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 30.8K
$9.39 KGS 821
5.32%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,767
$1.90 KGS 166
64.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 5,954
$0.83 KGS 72.1
130.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,712
$0.28 KGS 24.64
439.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,747
$1.16 KGS 102
168.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 17.9K
$1.25 KGS 109
360.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Uzgen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,509
$0.90 KGS 78.8
60.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,759
$0.37 KGS 32.47
572.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,535
$1.16 KGS 101
52.59%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,235
$1.52 KGS 133
94.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 31.4K
$4.70 KGS 411
114.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 31.6K
$3.43 KGS 300
195.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 44.6K
$7.55 KGS 660
89.40%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 12.9K
$0.67 KGS 58.3
517.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,019
$1.51 KGS 132
6.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,007
$2.32 KGS 202
-3.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,028
$1.21 KGS 106
85.95%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,375
$0.47 KGS 41.01
334.04%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,790
$0.44 KGS 38.06
250.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,651
$0.59 KGS 51.4
98.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,077
$0.73 KGS 63.8
79.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$2.03 KGS 177
92.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.7K
$5.25 KGS 459
166.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,439
$1.12 KGS 98.2
55.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 8,956
$1.67 KGS 146
71.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Uzgen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,792
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 251.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,084
$0.24 KGS 21.11
445.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,825
$0.33 KGS 29.26
563.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.2K
$7.51 KGS 657
15.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,260
$0.90 KGS 79.0
52.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 86.9M
$18.2K KGS 1.6M
53.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 111.6M
$16.9K KGS 1.5M
112.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Uzgen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 553.2K
$38.64 KGS 3,378
358.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 43.3K
$4.45 KGS 389
211.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 92.8K
$6.59 KGS 576
350.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Uzgen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 140.1K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 53.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.7K
$3.49 KGS 305
90.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Uzgen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.5M
$166 KGS 14.5K
391.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 28.7M
$1,886 KGS 164.8K
387.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Uzgen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 279.3K
$18.81 KGS 1,645
375.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 184.0K
$36.47 KGS 3,188
61.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 431.2K
$52.9 KGS 4,627
161.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 318.7K
$52.3 KGS 4,575
95.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Uzgen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 5.9M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Uzgen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.1M
-
-
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 Uzgen: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $23.00 in Uzgen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $138 – making Uzgen 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 Uzgen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Uzgen cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 354%, 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 $556 in Uzgen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Uzgen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $23.00 in Uzgen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Uzgen?
Groceries cost about 121% 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 $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Uzgen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Uzgen, where all-in costs run around $371, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Uzgen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Uzgen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Uzgen – 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 Uzgen?
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 Uzgen. 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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