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 $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $884 per month in Samarkand vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,228 per month in Samarkand vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Samarkand is about 47% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Samarkand and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Samarkand 60% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.52 UZS 54.1K
$5.95 COP 20.8K
-24.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.65 UZS 211.4K
$33.33 COP 116.3K
-47.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.30 UZS 51.5K
$7.23 COP 25.2K
-40.53%
Cappuccino
$1.75 UZS 21.0K
$1.63 COP 5,687
7.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 UZS 5,048
$1.09 COP 3,821
-61.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 UZS 2,983
$0.73 COP 2,548
-65.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.30 UZS 15.5K
$1.74 COP 6,065
-25.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 UZS 24.1K
$3.23 COP 11.3K
-37.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 UZS 12.1K
$1.05 COP 3,662
-3.81%
White Bread (500g)
$0.41 UZS 4,896
$1.29 COP 4,515
-68.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 UZS 18.9K
$1.32 COP 4,617
19.70%
Eggs
$1.32 UZS 15.8K
$2.27 COP 7,927
-41.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.65 UZS 91.6K
$4.35 COP 15.2K
75.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.71 UZS 44.4K
$5.88 COP 20.5K
-36.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.75 UZS 104.8K
$8.61 COP 30.0K
1.63%
Apples (1kg)
$0.76 UZS 9,151
$2.25 COP 7,844
-66.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 UZS 20.3K
$1.07 COP 3,733
57.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 UZS 19.4K
$1.52 COP 5,322
6.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 UZS 18.2K
$1.42 COP 4,964
7.04%
Potato (1kg)
$0.48 UZS 5,759
$1.17 COP 4,084
-58.97%
Onion (1kg)
$0.16 UZS 1,921
$1.17 COP 4,077
-86.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.25 UZS 3,011
$0.89 COP 3,096
-71.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 UZS 4,808
$0.90 COP 3,146
-55.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.59 UZS 19.1K
$2.25 COP 7,837
-29.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.37 UZS 40.4K
$11.04 COP 38.5K
-69.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 UZS 11.6K
$1.14 COP 3,977
-14.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 UZS 23.8K
$2.38 COP 8,301
-16.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 UZS 2,997
$0.84 COP 2,916
-70.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$3.18 UZS 38.1K
$41.95 COP 146.4K
-92.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.38 UZS 4,512
$1.41 COP 4,912
-73.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.19 UZS 2,303
$1.90 COP 6,634
-90.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.34 UZS 28.0K
$7.75 COP 27.0K
-69.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 UZS 11.4K
$1.01 COP 3,509
-5.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K UZS 240.4M
$17.6K COP 61.4M
14.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K UZS 302.2M
$26.5K COP 92.5M
-4.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.86 UZS 465.4K
$83.7 COP 292.1K
-53.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.67 UZS 44.0K
$9.45 COP 33.0K
-61.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.65 UZS 139.5K
$24.11 COP 84.1K
-51.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.09 UZS 432.3K
$25.31 COP 88.3K
42.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.13 UZS 73.4K
$19.14 COP 66.8K
-67.97%
Cinema Ticket
$2.88 UZS 34.4K
$4.10 COP 14.3K
-29.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$117 UZS 1.4M
$312 COP 1.1M
-62.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,734 UZS 56.7M
$5,993 COP 20.9M
-21.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.72 UZS 236.1K
$58.0 COP 202.6K
-66.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.41 UZS 472.0K
$32.56 COP 113.6K
21.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.3 UZS 853.5K
$99.6 COP 347.7K
-28.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.6 UZS 654.3K
$109 COP 378.8K
-49.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$230 UZS 2.8M
$482 COP 1.7M
-52.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$129 UZS 1.5M
$379 COP 1.3M
-66.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$440 UZS 5.3M
$837 COP 2.9M
-47.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$296 UZS 3.5M
$723 COP 2.5M
-59.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,229 UZS 14.7M
$2,840 COP 9.9M
-56.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$533 UZS 6.4M
$1,223 COP 4.3M
-56.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$306 UZS 3.7M
$541 COP 1.9M
-43.37%
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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $230 in Samarkand versus $482 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 77% 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: $145 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 88%, 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 $809 per month in Samarkand and $1,525 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 $1,017 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 $1,017. 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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