Cost of Living Comparison Between Samarkand and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Samarkand and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $541 per month in Samarkand vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $896 per month in Samarkand vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,251 per month in Samarkand vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Samarkand is about 46% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Samarkand and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Samarkand 59% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.53 UZS 54.4K
$5.91 COP 18.9K
-23.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.33 UZS 208.0K
$32.96 COP 105.2K
-47.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.44 UZS 53.3K
$7.43 COP 23.7K
-40.24%
Cappuccino
$1.76 UZS 21.1K
$1.65 COP 5,276
6.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 UZS 5,098
$1.10 COP 3,514
-61.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 UZS 3,259
$0.78 COP 2,491
-65.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.29 UZS 15.4K
$1.72 COP 5,484
-25.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 UZS 23.3K
$3.18 COP 10.1K
-38.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 UZS 12.6K
$1.10 COP 3,521
-4.55%
White Bread (500g)
$0.41 UZS 4,870
$1.26 COP 4,015
-67.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.52 UZS 18.2K
$1.38 COP 4,407
10.14%
Eggs
$1.30 UZS 15.6K
$2.18 COP 6,950
-40.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.74 UZS 92.9K
$4.49 COP 14.3K
72.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.85 UZS 46.2K
$5.79 COP 18.5K
-33.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.63 UZS 103.6K
$8.97 COP 28.6K
-3.79%
Apples (1kg)
$0.81 UZS 9,742
$2.32 COP 7,405
-65.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 UZS 20.2K
$1.06 COP 3,397
58.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.61 UZS 19.3K
$1.52 COP 4,838
5.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 UZS 17.4K
$1.36 COP 4,327
6.62%
Potato (1kg)
$0.46 UZS 5,521
$1.13 COP 3,599
-59.29%
Onion (1kg)
$0.17 UZS 2,100
$1.17 COP 3,738
-85.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.25 UZS 3,020
$0.90 COP 2,876
-72.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 UZS 4,498
$0.90 COP 2,861
-58.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.56 UZS 18.7K
$2.23 COP 7,128
-30.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.40 UZS 40.8K
$12.12 COP 38.7K
-71.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 UZS 11.1K
$1.19 COP 3,793
-22.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 UZS 23.4K
$2.48 COP 7,920
-21.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 UZS 2,756
$0.85 COP 2,723
-72.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$3.21 UZS 38.6K
$41.62 COP 132.8K
-92.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.41 UZS 4,885
$1.42 COP 4,518
-71.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.16 UZS 1,969
$1.95 COP 6,223
-91.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.34 UZS 28.1K
$7.89 COP 25.2K
-70.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 UZS 12.1K
$0.99 COP 3,160
2.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9K UZS 239.2M
$17.6K COP 56.2M
13.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K UZS 300.5M
$26.8K COP 85.5M
-6.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.90 UZS 479.0K
$83.0 COP 264.9K
-51.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.57 UZS 42.9K
$9.70 COP 30.9K
-63.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.59 UZS 139.2K
$23.52 COP 75.0K
-50.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.12 UZS 445.6K
$25.26 COP 80.6K
46.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.15 UZS 73.9K
$19.10 COP 60.9K
-67.80%
Cinema Ticket
$2.94 UZS 35.3K
$3.95 COP 12.6K
-25.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$117 UZS 1.4M
$316 COP 1.0M
-62.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,798 UZS 57.6M
$5,975 COP 19.1M
-19.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.65 UZS 235.9K
$60.0 COP 191.4K
-67.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.12 UZS 481.7K
$31.82 COP 101.5K
26.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.0 UZS 840.0K
$102 COP 324.4K
-31.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.2 UZS 662.8K
$107 COP 342.8K
-48.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$225 UZS 2.7M
$475 COP 1.5M
-52.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$129 UZS 1.5M
$374 COP 1.2M
-65.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$436 UZS 5.2M
$849 COP 2.7M
-48.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$293 UZS 3.5M
$719 COP 2.3M
-59.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,226 UZS 14.7M
$3,265 COP 10.4M
-62.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$533 UZS 6.4M
$1,441 COP 4.6M
-62.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$301 UZS 3.6M
$624 COP 2.0M
-51.83%
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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $225 in Samarkand versus $475 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 108% 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 $17.00 in Samarkand versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $145 vs $193 – 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 85%, 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 $811 per month in Samarkand and $1,504 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 in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 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 and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $541 in Samarkand and $1,003 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 living in Samarkand or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Samarkand, where all-in costs run around $541, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.

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