🙂A single person spends $540 per month in Samarkand vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $889 per month in Samarkand vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,238 per month in Samarkand vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Samarkand is about 48% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Samarkand and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Samarkand60% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51UZS 54.3K
$5.92COP 21.4K
-23.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.62UZS 212.1K
$32.75COP 118.2K
-46.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.26UZS 51.3K
$7.20COP 26.0K
-40.83%
Cappuccino
$1.76UZS 21.2K
$1.70COP 6,140
3.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39UZS 4,721
$1.10COP 3,966
-64.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25UZS 2,980
$0.72COP 2,605
-65.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.27UZS 15.3K
$1.67COP 6,022
-23.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95UZS 23.5K
$3.10COP 11.2K
-37.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00UZS 12.0K
$1.06COP 3,809
-5.66%
White Bread(500g)
$0.40UZS 4,875
$1.25COP 4,497
-68.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.54UZS 18.5K
$1.39COP 5,022
10.79%
Eggs
$1.25UZS 15.0K
$2.26COP 8,168
-44.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.79UZS 93.8K
$4.33COP 15.6K
79.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.75UZS 45.2K
$5.84COP 21.1K
-35.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.43UZS 101.5K
$8.83COP 31.9K
-4.53%
Apples(1kg)
$0.77UZS 9,263
$2.24COP 8,099
-65.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75UZS 21.1K
$1.08COP 3,882
62.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55UZS 18.6K
$1.53COP 5,522
1.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.51UZS 18.1K
$1.37COP 4,950
10.22%
Potato(1kg)
$0.49UZS 5,882
$1.13COP 4,078
-56.64%
Onion(1kg)
$0.15UZS 1,836
$1.12COP 4,036
-86.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.25UZS 3,021
$0.85COP 3,057
-70.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38UZS 4,538
$0.91COP 3,281
-58.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.54UZS 18.5K
$2.33COP 8,414
-33.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.24UZS 39.1K
$11.13COP 40.2K
-70.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91UZS 10.9K
$1.19COP 4,309
-23.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00UZS 24.1K
$2.37COP 8,553
-15.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23UZS 2,758
$0.79COP 2,838
-70.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.11UZS 37.4K
$41.13COP 148.5K
-92.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.37UZS 4,495
$1.44COP 5,184
-74.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.18UZS 2,205
$1.91COP 6,901
-90.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.39UZS 28.8K
$8.02COP 28.9K
-70.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.96UZS 11.6K
$0.94COP 3,385
2.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4KUZS 245.4M
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
13.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7KUZS 297.9M
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
-7.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.20UZS 472.0K
$84.0COP 303.1K
-53.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.63UZS 43.8K
$9.60COP 34.7K
-62.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.76UZS 141.7K
$24.16COP 87.2K
-51.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.63UZS 441.0K
$25.88COP 93.4K
41.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.23UZS 75.0K
$19.04COP 68.7K
-67.28%
Cinema Ticket
$2.99UZS 36.0K
$3.92COP 14.1K
-23.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$117UZS 1.4M
$306COP 1.1M
-61.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,738UZS 57.0M
$5,919COP 21.4M
-19.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.04UZS 241.3K
$57.9COP 209.1K
-65.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.87UZS 468.0K
$31.82COP 114.9K
22.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.7UZS 862.8K
$99.9COP 360.6K
-28.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.7UZS 670.5K
$107COP 386.8K
-48.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$229UZS 2.8M
$487COP 1.8M
-53.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$132UZS 1.6M
$368COP 1.3M
-64.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$430UZS 5.2M
$826COP 3.0M
-47.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$301UZS 3.6M
$716COP 2.6M
-57.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,241UZS 14.9M
$2,925COP 10.6M
-57.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$530UZS 6.4M
$1,407COP 5.1M
-62.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$296UZS 3.6M
$546COP 2.0M
-45.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22.07
13.43
64.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Samarkand: April 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $229 in Samarkand 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 84% 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 $18.00 in Samarkand versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $143 vs $190 – making Samarkand 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
Samarkand vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Samarkand?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 91%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $810 per month in Samarkand 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 Samarkand, 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 Samarkand or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Samarkand 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 Samarkand vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $540 in Samarkand and $1,034 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Samarkand or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Samarkand, where all-in costs run around $540, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Samarkand it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Samarkand or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Samarkand – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Samarkand 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 Samarkand. 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.