🙂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 – Samarkand60% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.52UZS 54.1K
$5.95COP 20.8K
-24.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.65UZS 211.4K
$33.33COP 116.3K
-47.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.30UZS 51.5K
$7.23COP 25.2K
-40.53%
Cappuccino
$1.75UZS 21.0K
$1.63COP 5,687
7.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42UZS 5,048
$1.09COP 3,821
-61.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25UZS 2,983
$0.73COP 2,548
-65.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.30UZS 15.5K
$1.74COP 6,065
-25.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01UZS 24.1K
$3.23COP 11.3K
-37.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01UZS 12.1K
$1.05COP 3,662
-3.81%
White Bread(500g)
$0.41UZS 4,896
$1.29COP 4,515
-68.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58UZS 18.9K
$1.32COP 4,617
19.70%
Eggs
$1.32UZS 15.8K
$2.27COP 7,927
-41.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.65UZS 91.6K
$4.35COP 15.2K
75.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.71UZS 44.4K
$5.88COP 20.5K
-36.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.75UZS 104.8K
$8.61COP 30.0K
1.63%
Apples(1kg)
$0.76UZS 9,151
$2.25COP 7,844
-66.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69UZS 20.3K
$1.07COP 3,733
57.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62UZS 19.4K
$1.52COP 5,322
6.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52UZS 18.2K
$1.42COP 4,964
7.04%
Potato(1kg)
$0.48UZS 5,759
$1.17COP 4,084
-58.97%
Onion(1kg)
$0.16UZS 1,921
$1.17COP 4,077
-86.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.25UZS 3,011
$0.89COP 3,096
-71.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40UZS 4,808
$0.90COP 3,146
-55.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.59UZS 19.1K
$2.25COP 7,837
-29.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.37UZS 40.4K
$11.04COP 38.5K
-69.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97UZS 11.6K
$1.14COP 3,977
-14.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99UZS 23.8K
$2.38COP 8,301
-16.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25UZS 2,997
$0.84COP 2,916
-70.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.18UZS 38.1K
$41.95COP 146.4K
-92.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.38UZS 4,512
$1.41COP 4,912
-73.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.19UZS 2,303
$1.90COP 6,634
-90.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.34UZS 28.0K
$7.75COP 27.0K
-69.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95UZS 11.4K
$1.01COP 3,509
-5.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1KUZS 240.4M
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
14.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2KUZS 302.2M
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-4.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.86UZS 465.4K
$83.7COP 292.1K
-53.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.67UZS 44.0K
$9.45COP 33.0K
-61.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.65UZS 139.5K
$24.11COP 84.1K
-51.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.09UZS 432.3K
$25.31COP 88.3K
42.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.13UZS 73.4K
$19.14COP 66.8K
-67.97%
Cinema Ticket
$2.88UZS 34.4K
$4.10COP 14.3K
-29.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$117UZS 1.4M
$312COP 1.1M
-62.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,734UZS 56.7M
$5,993COP 20.9M
-21.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.72UZS 236.1K
$58.0COP 202.6K
-66.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.41UZS 472.0K
$32.56COP 113.6K
21.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.3UZS 853.5K
$99.6COP 347.7K
-28.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.6UZS 654.3K
$109COP 378.8K
-49.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$230UZS 2.8M
$482COP 1.7M
-52.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$129UZS 1.5M
$379COP 1.3M
-66.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$440UZS 5.3M
$837COP 2.9M
-47.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$296UZS 3.5M
$723COP 2.5M
-59.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,229UZS 14.7M
$2,840COP 9.9M
-56.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$533UZS 6.4M
$1,223COP 4.3M
-56.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$306UZS 3.7M
$541COP 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.