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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Samarkand 60% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51 UZS 54.3K
$5.92 COP 21.4K
-23.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.62 UZS 212.1K
$32.75 COP 118.2K
-46.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.26 UZS 51.3K
$7.20 COP 26.0K
-40.83%
Cappuccino
$1.76 UZS 21.2K
$1.70 COP 6,140
3.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 UZS 4,721
$1.10 COP 3,966
-64.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 UZS 2,980
$0.72 COP 2,605
-65.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.27 UZS 15.3K
$1.67 COP 6,022
-23.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 UZS 23.5K
$3.10 COP 11.2K
-37.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 UZS 12.0K
$1.06 COP 3,809
-5.66%
White Bread (500g)
$0.40 UZS 4,875
$1.25 COP 4,497
-68.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 UZS 18.5K
$1.39 COP 5,022
10.79%
Eggs
$1.25 UZS 15.0K
$2.26 COP 8,168
-44.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.79 UZS 93.8K
$4.33 COP 15.6K
79.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.75 UZS 45.2K
$5.84 COP 21.1K
-35.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.43 UZS 101.5K
$8.83 COP 31.9K
-4.53%
Apples (1kg)
$0.77 UZS 9,263
$2.24 COP 8,099
-65.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 UZS 21.1K
$1.08 COP 3,882
62.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.55 UZS 18.6K
$1.53 COP 5,522
1.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.51 UZS 18.1K
$1.37 COP 4,950
10.22%
Potato (1kg)
$0.49 UZS 5,882
$1.13 COP 4,078
-56.64%
Onion (1kg)
$0.15 UZS 1,836
$1.12 COP 4,036
-86.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.25 UZS 3,021
$0.85 COP 3,057
-70.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38 UZS 4,538
$0.91 COP 3,281
-58.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.54 UZS 18.5K
$2.33 COP 8,414
-33.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.24 UZS 39.1K
$11.13 COP 40.2K
-70.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 UZS 10.9K
$1.19 COP 4,309
-23.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 UZS 24.1K
$2.37 COP 8,553
-15.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 UZS 2,758
$0.79 COP 2,838
-70.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$3.11 UZS 37.4K
$41.13 COP 148.5K
-92.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.37 UZS 4,495
$1.44 COP 5,184
-74.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.18 UZS 2,205
$1.91 COP 6,901
-90.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.39 UZS 28.8K
$8.02 COP 28.9K
-70.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 UZS 11.6K
$0.94 COP 3,385
2.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4K UZS 245.4M
$17.9K COP 64.7M
13.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K UZS 297.9M
$26.8K COP 96.7M
-7.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.20 UZS 472.0K
$84.0 COP 303.1K
-53.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.63 UZS 43.8K
$9.60 COP 34.7K
-62.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.76 UZS 141.7K
$24.16 COP 87.2K
-51.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.63 UZS 441.0K
$25.88 COP 93.4K
41.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.23 UZS 75.0K
$19.04 COP 68.7K
-67.28%
Cinema Ticket
$2.99 UZS 36.0K
$3.92 COP 14.1K
-23.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$117 UZS 1.4M
$306 COP 1.1M
-61.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,738 UZS 57.0M
$5,919 COP 21.4M
-19.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.04 UZS 241.3K
$57.9 COP 209.1K
-65.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.87 UZS 468.0K
$31.82 COP 114.9K
22.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.7 UZS 862.8K
$99.9 COP 360.6K
-28.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.7 UZS 670.5K
$107 COP 386.8K
-48.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$229 UZS 2.8M
$487 COP 1.8M
-53.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$132 UZS 1.6M
$368 COP 1.3M
-64.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 UZS 5.2M
$826 COP 3.0M
-47.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$301 UZS 3.6M
$716 COP 2.6M
-57.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,241 UZS 14.9M
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-57.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$530 UZS 6.4M
$1,407 COP 5.1M
-62.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$296 UZS 3.6M
$546 COP 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.

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