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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $701 per month in Osh vs $1,687 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,130 per month in Osh vs $2,535 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,559 per month in Osh vs $3,383 in Medellin, rent included.

Osh is about 58% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Osh sits 49% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Osh
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.69 KGS 410
$7.89 COP 24.2K
-40.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.12 KGS 2,021
$44.53 COP 136.5K
-48.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 KGS 823
$9.29 COP 28.5K
1.40%
Cappuccino
$1.93 KGS 169
$2.90 COP 8,874
-33.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 KGS 72.7
$1.81 COP 5,541
-54.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 KGS 24.68
$1.55 COP 4,741
-81.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.17 KGS 102
$3.25 COP 9,962
-64.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 KGS 113
$5.88 COP 18.0K
-77.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Osh
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.83 KGS 72.8
$1.38 COP 4,230
-39.86%
White Bread (500g)
$0.37 KGS 32.50
$2.45 COP 7,517
-84.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 KGS 101
$1.51 COP 4,617
-23.84%
Eggs
$1.49 KGS 131
$2.78 COP 8,516
-46.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.77 KGS 417
$9.05 COP 27.7K
-47.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.54 KGS 309
$10.65 COP 32.6K
-66.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.52 KGS 658
$14.63 COP 44.8K
-48.60%
Apples (1kg)
$0.62 KGS 54.6
$3.97 COP 12.2K
-84.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 KGS 136
$1.38 COP 4,219
12.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 KGS 191
$2.30 COP 7,056
-5.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.21 KGS 105
$2.02 COP 6,185
-40.10%
Potato (1kg)
$0.47 KGS 40.73
$2.09 COP 6,390
-77.51%
Onion (1kg)
$0.47 KGS 41.02
$1.63 COP 4,996
-71.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 KGS 55.0
$1.08 COP 3,313
-41.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 KGS 63.7
$1.25 COP 3,843
-41.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.00 KGS 175
$4.03 COP 12.4K
-50.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.17 KGS 452
$13.47 COP 41.3K
-61.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 KGS 101
$1.60 COP 4,904
-27.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 KGS 148
$3.00 COP 9,189
-43.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Osh
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 KGS 21.08
$1.18 COP 3,611
-79.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.99 KGS 1,048
$79.9 COP 244.9K
-85.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.22 KGS 19.14
$1.61 COP 4,920
-86.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 KGS 29.62
$2.13 COP 6,533
-84.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.80 KGS 682
$8.52 COP 26.1K
-8.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 KGS 86.1
$1.35 COP 4,142
-27.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0K KGS 2.0M
$28.3K COP 86.8M
-18.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.1K KGS 1.5M
$35.7K COP 109.4M
-52.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Osh
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.61 KGS 3,376
$151 COP 463.8K
-74.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.01 KGS 438
$13.10 COP 40.1K
-61.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.09 KGS 794
$32.30 COP 99.0K
-71.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Osh
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.24 KGS 4,043
$46.33 COP 141.9K
-0.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.66 KGS 1,719
$17.26 COP 52.9K
13.90%
Cinema Ticket
$3.42 KGS 299
$6.43 COP 19.7K
-46.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Osh
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$168 KGS 14.7K
$835 COP 2.6M
-79.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,899 KGS 166.0K
$8,887 COP 27.2M
-78.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Osh
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.25 KGS 1,683
$89.3 COP 273.7K
-78.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.04 KGS 3,151
$55.3 COP 169.5K
-34.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$53.1 KGS 4,640
$137 COP 418.5K
-61.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.6 KGS 4,510
$109 COP 335.1K
-52.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Osh
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$361 KGS 31.6K
$952 COP 2.9M
-62.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$276 KGS 24.1K
$668 COP 2.0M
-58.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$916 KGS 80.1K
$2,020 COP 6.2M
-54.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$579 KGS 50.7K
$1,148 COP 3.5M
-49.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,246 KGS 108.9K
$3,696 COP 11.3M
-66.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,022 KGS 89.4K
$1,586 COP 4.9M
-35.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Osh
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$309 KGS 27.0K
$625 COP 1.9M
-50.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
10.43
-

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

Last update for Osh: August 15, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $361 in Osh versus $952 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 $45.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $138 vs $297 – 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 141%, 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 $1,051 per month in Osh and $2,530 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 $45.00 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 $701 in Osh and $1,687 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 living in Osh or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Osh, where all-in costs run around $701, than in Medellin at $1,687. 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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