Cost of Living Comparison Between Osh and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Osh and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $565 per month in Osh vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $952 per month in Osh vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,338 per month in Osh vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Osh is about 45% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Osh and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Osh 58% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Osh
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.38 KGS 296
$5.92 COP 21.4K
-42.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.78 KGS 1,294
$32.75 COP 118.2K
-54.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.60 KGS 490
$7.20 COP 26.0K
-22.22%
Cappuccino
$1.40 KGS 123
$1.70 COP 6,140
-17.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 KGS 61.0
$1.10 COP 3,966
-36.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 KGS 18.32
$0.72 COP 2,605
-70.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.22 KGS 107
$1.67 COP 6,022
-26.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 KGS 102
$3.10 COP 11.2K
-62.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Osh
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 KGS 77.6
$1.06 COP 3,809
-16.04%
White Bread (500g)
$0.41 KGS 35.90
$1.25 COP 4,497
-67.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.89 KGS 77.7
$1.39 COP 5,022
-35.97%
Eggs
$1.55 KGS 136
$2.26 COP 8,168
-31.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.83 KGS 511
$4.33 COP 15.6K
34.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.69 KGS 411
$5.84 COP 21.1K
-19.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.32 KGS 641
$8.83 COP 31.9K
-17.10%
Apples (1kg)
$0.22 KGS 19.20
$2.24 COP 8,099
-90.18%
Banana (1kg)
$0.88 KGS 76.8
$1.08 COP 3,882
-18.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.80 KGS 245
$1.53 COP 5,522
83.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.11 KGS 97.2
$1.37 COP 4,950
-18.98%
Potato (1kg)
$0.37 KGS 32.17
$1.13 COP 4,078
-67.26%
Onion (1kg)
$0.36 KGS 31.13
$1.12 COP 4,036
-67.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.22 KGS 19.22
$0.85 COP 3,057
-74.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 KGS 51.6
$0.91 COP 3,281
-35.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$0.70 KGS 61.6
$2.33 COP 8,414
-69.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.00 KGS 438
$11.13 COP 40.2K
-55.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 KGS 98.8
$1.19 COP 4,309
-5.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 KGS 132
$2.37 COP 8,553
-36.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Osh
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 KGS 13.86
$0.79 COP 2,838
-79.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.07 KGS 2,019
$41.13 COP 148.5K
-43.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.44 COP 5,184
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.19 KGS 16.51
$1.91 COP 6,901
-90.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.46 KGS 128
$8.02 COP 28.9K
-81.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 KGS 72.8
$0.94 COP 3,385
-11.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K KGS 2.0M
$17.9K COP 64.7M
26.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.8K COP 96.7M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Osh
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$37.72 KGS 3,301
$84.0 COP 303.1K
-55.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.08 KGS 357
$9.60 COP 34.7K
-57.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.41 KGS 649
$24.16 COP 87.2K
-69.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Osh
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.80 KGS 2,258
$25.88 COP 93.4K
-0.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.51 KGS 3,021
$19.04 COP 68.7K
81.25%
Cinema Ticket
$2.31 KGS 202
$3.92 COP 14.1K
-41.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Osh
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$91.3 KGS 7,987
$306 COP 1.1M
-70.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,851 KGS 162.0K
$5,919 COP 21.4M
-68.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Osh
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.33 KGS 1,516
$57.9 COP 209.1K
-70.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.97 KGS 2,010
$31.82 COP 114.9K
-27.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$57.0 KGS 4,987
$99.9 COP 360.6K
-42.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.45 KGS 4,065
$107 COP 386.8K
-56.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Osh
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$369 KGS 32.3K
$487 COP 1.8M
-24.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$183 KGS 16.0K
$368 COP 1.3M
-50.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 KGS 64.6K
$826 COP 3.0M
-10.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 KGS 40.4K
$716 COP 2.6M
-35.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,245 KGS 109.0K
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-57.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,027 KGS 89.9K
$1,407 COP 5.1M
-26.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Osh
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$304 KGS 26.6K
$546 COP 2.0M
-44.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
13.43
-

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

Last update for Osh: April 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $369 in Osh versus $487 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 79% 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 $15.00 in Osh versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $137 vs $190 – making Osh 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
Osh vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Osh?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 83%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $848 per month in Osh and $1,550 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 Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Osh and $33.00 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 vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $565 in Osh and $1,034 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Osh or Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Osh, where all-in costs run around $565, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.

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