Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Osh and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Osh: $691 a month against $1,589 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $10,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Osh
🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan
$691
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Osh and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Osh and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $691 per month in Osh vs $1,589 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Osh $691
  • Medellin $1,589

A couple spends around $1,118 per month in Osh vs $2,364 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Osh $1,118
  • Medellin $2,364

A family of three spends $1,544 per month in Osh vs $3,139 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Osh $1,544
  • Medellin $3,139

Osh is about 57% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Osh sits 48% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Osh
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.46 KGS 389
$8.01 COP 25.8K
-44.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.08 KGS 2,016
$46.55 COP 149.9K
-50.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.33 KGS 815
$9.43 COP 30.4K
-1.06%
Cappuccino
$1.91 KGS 166
$2.91 COP 9,374
-34.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 KGS 73.3
$1.75 COP 5,643
-52.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 KGS 24.69
$1.32 COP 4,263
-78.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.12 KGS 97.8
$3.13 COP 10.1K
-64.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 KGS 113
$5.55 COP 17.9K
-76.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Osh
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 KGS 74.7
$1.41 COP 4,542
-39.01%
White Bread (500g)
$0.38 KGS 32.80
$2.44 COP 7,858
-84.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 KGS 106
$1.63 COP 5,245
-25.77%
Eggs
$1.45 KGS 127
$2.82 COP 9,084
-48.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.84 KGS 423
$9.69 COP 31.2K
-50.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.52 KGS 308
$9.32 COP 30.0K
-62.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.92 KGS 692
$13.46 COP 43.3K
-41.16%
Apples (1kg)
$0.67 KGS 58.7
$4.00 COP 12.9K
-83.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 KGS 135
$1.48 COP 4,768
4.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 KGS 193
$2.12 COP 6,839
4.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 KGS 104
$2.25 COP 7,253
-47.11%
Potato (1kg)
$0.47 KGS 40.85
$1.91 COP 6,155
-75.39%
Onion (1kg)
$0.46 KGS 40.28
$1.62 COP 5,214
-71.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 KGS 51.2
$1.15 COP 3,696
-48.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 KGS 61.2
$1.26 COP 4,063
-44.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.11 KGS 184
$3.82 COP 12.3K
-44.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.08 KGS 444
$13.11 COP 42.2K
-61.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 KGS 96.7
$1.60 COP 5,136
-30.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 KGS 144
$2.26 COP 7,263
-26.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Osh
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 KGS 19.13
$1.17 COP 3,770
-81.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.97 KGS 1,046
$75.0 COP 241.5K
-84.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.24 KGS 20.99
$1.27 COP 4,098
-81.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 KGS 29.13
$2.05 COP 6,600
-83.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.55 KGS 660
$8.20 COP 26.4K
-7.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 KGS 87.6
$1.27 COP 4,088
-21.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.4K KGS 1.6M
$26.8K COP 86.2M
-31.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K KGS 1.5M
$34.4K COP 110.8M
-50.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Osh
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.39 KGS 3,354
$162 COP 522.3K
-76.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.97 KGS 434
$13.12 COP 42.3K
-62.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.38 KGS 819
$28.09 COP 90.5K
-66.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Osh
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.54 KGS 3,979
$44.33 COP 142.7K
2.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.09 KGS 1,755
$16.33 COP 52.6K
23.03%
Cinema Ticket
$3.33 KGS 291
$6.09 COP 19.6K
-45.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Osh
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$169 KGS 14.7K
$764 COP 2.5M
-77.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,886 KGS 164.7K
$8,904 COP 28.7M
-78.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Osh
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.96 KGS 1,657
$85.0 COP 273.6K
-77.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.46 KGS 3,185
$57.5 COP 185.1K
-36.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$53.9 KGS 4,711
$132 COP 424.2K
-59.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.2 KGS 4,561
$95.8 COP 308.3K
-45.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Osh
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$367 KGS 32.0K
$1,028 COP 3.3M
-64.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$272 KGS 23.8K
$604 COP 1.9M
-54.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$900 KGS 78.7K
$1,802 COP 5.8M
-50.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$578 KGS 50.5K
$993 COP 3.2M
-41.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,233 KGS 107.7K
$3,921 COP 12.6M
-68.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,010 KGS 88.3K
$1,639 COP 5.3M
-38.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Osh
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$308 KGS 26.9K
$626 COP 2.0M
-50.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
10.94
-

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

Last update for Osh: October 4, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Osh
$272
Medellin
$604 122% $332
Groceries & Markets
Osh
$138
Medellin
$288 109% $150
Eating Out
Osh
$99
Medellin
$166 67.8% $67
Clothing & Footwear
Osh
$73
Medellin
$166 129% $94
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Osh
$53
Medellin
$203 286% $151
Sport & Entertainment
Osh
$52
Medellin
$57 8.2% $4.3
Getting Around
Osh
$15
Medellin
$91 518% $76

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $367 in Osh versus $1,028 in Medellin. 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 103% 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 $23.00 in Osh versus $47.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $138 vs $288 – making Osh the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇰🇬 Osh
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
15:41 3:41 PM
04:41 4:41 AM
11 h behind Osh
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
270,347
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to KGS – Kyrgyzstani Som Converter

Kyrgyzstani Som exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 87.37 KGS (100 KGS = 1.14 USD). 1 EUR = 97.9 KGS (100 KGS = 1.02 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3,220 COP (10,000 COP = 3.11 USD). 1 EUR = 3,608 COP (10,000 COP = 2.77 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Osh Medellin 13,890 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Osh
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Osh vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Osh?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 130%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,037 per month in Osh and $2,384 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Osh, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Osh or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Osh and $47.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Osh and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $691 in Osh and $1,589 in Medellin. That's a gap of about 130%.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Osh or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Osh, where all-in costs run around $691, than in Medellin at $1,589. In Osh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Osh or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Osh – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Osh or Medellin?
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 Osh. 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.

Osh vs other spots: cost of living compared

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