🙂A single person spends $632 per month in Samarkand vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,023 per month in Samarkand vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,413 per month in Samarkand vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Samarkand is about 61% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Samarkand sits 54% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.91UZS 81.2K
$8.04COP 24.8K
-14.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.86UZS 233.6K
$48.29COP 148.6K
-58.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.78UZS 56.2K
$9.42COP 29.0K
-49.26%
Cappuccino
$2.47UZS 29.1K
$2.94COP 9,040
-15.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69UZS 8,116
$1.86COP 5,735
-62.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19UZS 2,217
$1.46COP 4,479
-86.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.50UZS 17.6K
$3.21COP 9,882
-53.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23UZS 26.2K
$5.71COP 17.6K
-60.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08UZS 12.8K
$1.44COP 4,428
-25.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.33UZS 3,834
$2.40COP 7,389
-86.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63UZS 19.2K
$1.70COP 5,228
-4.12%
Eggs
$1.39UZS 16.3K
$2.89COP 8,896
-51.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28UZS 97.4K
$10.06COP 30.9K
-17.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.38UZS 51.5K
$9.97COP 30.7K
-56.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.63UZS 125.0K
$14.20COP 43.7K
-25.14%
Apples(1kg)
$0.81UZS 9,513
$3.98COP 12.3K
-79.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83UZS 21.5K
$1.58COP 4,878
15.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75UZS 20.6K
$2.15COP 6,624
-18.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.73UZS 20.3K
$2.30COP 7,078
-24.78%
Potato(1kg)
$0.49UZS 5,748
$2.00COP 6,169
-75.50%
Onion(1kg)
$0.17UZS 2,013
$1.51COP 4,646
-88.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.24UZS 2,814
$1.20COP 3,701
-80.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40UZS 4,720
$1.28COP 3,946
-68.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.67UZS 19.7K
$3.84COP 11.8K
-56.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.32UZS 39.0K
$14.01COP 43.1K
-76.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99UZS 11.7K
$1.71COP 5,256
-42.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14UZS 25.1K
$2.74COP 8,440
-21.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26UZS 3,066
$1.25COP 3,834
-79.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.32UZS 39.1K
$77.9COP 239.7K
-95.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.37UZS 4,311
$1.31COP 4,016
-71.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.32UZS 3,804
$2.17COP 6,680
-85.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.40UZS 39.9K
$8.29COP 25.5K
-58.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10UZS 12.9K
$1.36COP 4,172
-19.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.9KUZS 198.4M
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
-38.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2KUZS 284.8M
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-33.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.06UZS 506.4K
$169COP 519.2K
-74.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.86UZS 45.4K
$13.57COP 41.8K
-71.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.68UZS 160.9K
$28.32COP 87.2K
-51.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.94UZS 469.7K
$45.71COP 140.7K
-12.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.94UZS 81.6K
$17.22COP 53.0K
-59.70%
Cinema Ticket
$3.22UZS 37.8K
$6.65COP 20.5K
-51.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$331UZS 3.9M
$803COP 2.5M
-58.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,569UZS 89.0M
$9,190COP 28.3M
-17.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.85UZS 245.2K
$87.4COP 268.8K
-76.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.23UZS 508.4K
$59.4COP 182.7K
-27.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.5UZS 899.8K
$139COP 427.5K
-44.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.5UZS 699.3K
$102COP 314.0K
-41.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$250UZS 2.9M
$1,071COP 3.3M
-76.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$166UZS 2.0M
$653COP 2.0M
-74.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$469UZS 5.5M
$1,925COP 5.9M
-75.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$319UZS 3.8M
$1,048COP 3.2M
-69.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,263UZS 14.9M
$4,123COP 12.7M
-69.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$558UZS 6.6M
$1,697COP 5.2M
-67.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$311UZS 3.7M
$655COP 2.0M
-52.49%
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: September 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $250 in Samarkand versus $1,071 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 110% 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 $20.00 in Samarkand versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $159 vs $300 – 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 160%, 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 $948 per month in Samarkand and $2,462 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 $20.00 in Samarkand and $48.00 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 $632 in Samarkand and $1,641 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 $632, than in Medellin at $1,641. 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.