Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Samarkand and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Samarkand: $636 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $12,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Medellin, Colombia
Samarkand
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
$636
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Samarkand 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 Samarkand and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $636 per month in Samarkand vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Samarkand $636
  • Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $1,013 per month in Samarkand vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Samarkand $1,013
  • Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $1,391 per month in Samarkand vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Samarkand $1,391
  • Medellin $3,186

Samarkand is about 61% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Samarkand sits 53% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.82 UZS 81.7K
$8.09 COP 25.6K
-15.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.65 UZS 235.4K
$47.05 COP 148.7K
-58.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.78 UZS 57.3K
$9.50 COP 30.0K
-49.68%
Cappuccino
$2.54 UZS 30.4K
$3.01 COP 9,532
-15.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 UZS 9,055
$1.80 COP 5,688
-57.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 UZS 2,501
$1.41 COP 4,465
-85.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.64 UZS 19.7K
$3.18 COP 10.0K
-48.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 UZS 27.1K
$5.75 COP 18.2K
-60.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 UZS 12.8K
$1.51 COP 4,774
-29.14%
White Bread (500g)
$0.32 UZS 3,796
$2.38 COP 7,517
-86.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.59 UZS 19.1K
$1.77 COP 5,601
-10.17%
Eggs
$1.33 UZS 15.9K
$2.89 COP 9,138
-53.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.19 UZS 98.1K
$10.19 COP 32.2K
-19.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.19 UZS 50.1K
$9.87 COP 31.2K
-57.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.48 UZS 125.6K
$13.99 COP 44.2K
-25.09%
Apples (1kg)
$0.86 UZS 10.3K
$3.97 COP 12.6K
-78.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 UZS 21.1K
$1.55 COP 4,907
13.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 UZS 20.5K
$2.18 COP 6,901
-21.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.71 UZS 20.5K
$2.18 COP 6,904
-21.56%
Potato (1kg)
$0.51 UZS 6,166
$1.96 COP 6,205
-73.98%
Onion (1kg)
$0.15 UZS 1,823
$1.59 COP 5,025
-90.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.26 UZS 3,144
$1.15 COP 3,622
-77.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 UZS 4,896
$1.24 COP 3,930
-66.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.65 UZS 19.8K
$3.96 COP 12.5K
-58.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.44 UZS 41.2K
$13.68 COP 43.3K
-74.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 UZS 12.3K
$1.66 COP 5,247
-38.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 UZS 24.4K
$2.26 COP 7,139
-9.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 UZS 2,863
$1.17 COP 3,692
-79.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$3.42 UZS 40.9K
$77.4 COP 244.6K
-95.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.33 UZS 3,907
$1.27 COP 4,009
-74.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.32 UZS 3,893
$2.05 COP 6,474
-84.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.40 UZS 40.7K
$8.55 COP 27.0K
-60.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 UZS 14.3K
$1.35 COP 4,258
-11.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.3K UZS 207.4M
$34.1K COP 107.7M
-49.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K UZS 252.9M
$34.7K COP 109.6M
-39.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.16 UZS 493.1K
$170 COP 536.4K
-75.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.92 UZS 46.9K
$13.55 COP 42.8K
-71.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.63 UZS 163.3K
$28.07 COP 88.7K
-51.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.16 UZS 469.2K
$43.70 COP 138.2K
-10.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.56 UZS 78.6K
$17.19 COP 54.3K
-61.84%
Cinema Ticket
$3.21 UZS 38.5K
$6.91 COP 21.9K
-53.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$380 UZS 4.6M
$797 COP 2.5M
-52.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,387 UZS 88.5M
$9,112 COP 28.8M
-18.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.48 UZS 245.4K
$84.7 COP 267.8K
-75.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.29 UZS 494.7K
$58.0 COP 183.2K
-28.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.4 UZS 903.0K
$135 COP 426.7K
-44.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.2 UZS 708.7K
$97.9 COP 309.4K
-39.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$239 UZS 2.9M
$1,208 COP 3.8M
-80.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$164 UZS 2.0M
$642 COP 2.0M
-74.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$457 UZS 5.5M
$2,028 COP 6.4M
-77.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$319 UZS 3.8M
$1,012 COP 3.2M
-68.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,248 UZS 14.9M
$4,170 COP 13.2M
-70.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$536 UZS 6.4M
$1,910 COP 6.0M
-71.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$306 UZS 3.7M
$657 COP 2.1M
-53.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
23.31
10.94
113.07%

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

Last update for Samarkand: October 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Samarkand
$164
Medellin
$642 291% $477
Groceries & Markets
Samarkand
$157
Medellin
$297 89.7% $140
Eating Out
Samarkand
$116
Medellin
$170 46.2% $54
Clothing & Footwear
Samarkand
$88
Medellin
$169 91.3% $81
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarkand
$59
Medellin
$211 260% $153
Sport & Entertainment
Samarkand
$46
Medellin
$58 26.2% $12
Getting Around
Samarkand
$6.3
Medellin
$94 1380% $87

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $239 in Samarkand versus $1,208 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 in Medellin are about 2.1 times higher, 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 $20 in Samarkand versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $157 vs $297 – making Samarkand the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇿 Samarkand
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
23:58 11:58 PM
13:58 1:58 PM
10 h behind Samarkand
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
573,200
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to UZS – Uzbekistani Som Converter

Uzbekistani Som exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 11,980 UZS (100,000 UZS = 8.35 USD). 1 EUR = 13,369 UZS (100,000 UZS = 7.48 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 3,162 COP (10,000 COP = 3.16 USD). 1 EUR = 3,528 COP (10,000 COP = 2.83 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Samarkand Medellin 13,630 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Samarkand
  • 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
Samarkand vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Samarkand cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 158%, 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 $953 per month in Samarkand and $2,459 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $239 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Samarkand or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20 in Samarkand and $47 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 $636 in Samarkand and $1,639 in Medellin. That makes Samarkand about 61% cheaper.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Samarkand or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Samarkand, where all-in costs run around $636, than in Medellin at $1,639. 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 the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Samarkand. If higher salaries 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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