🙂A single person spends $541 per month in Samarkand vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $896 per month in Samarkand vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,251 per month in Samarkand vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Samarkand is about 46% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Samarkand and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Samarkand59% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.53UZS 54.4K
$5.91COP 18.9K
-23.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.33UZS 208.0K
$32.96COP 105.2K
-47.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.44UZS 53.3K
$7.43COP 23.7K
-40.24%
Cappuccino
$1.76UZS 21.1K
$1.65COP 5,276
6.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42UZS 5,098
$1.10COP 3,514
-61.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27UZS 3,259
$0.78COP 2,491
-65.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.29UZS 15.4K
$1.72COP 5,484
-25.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94UZS 23.3K
$3.18COP 10.1K
-38.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05UZS 12.6K
$1.10COP 3,521
-4.55%
White Bread(500g)
$0.41UZS 4,870
$1.26COP 4,015
-67.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52UZS 18.2K
$1.38COP 4,407
10.14%
Eggs
$1.30UZS 15.6K
$2.18COP 6,950
-40.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74UZS 92.9K
$4.49COP 14.3K
72.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.85UZS 46.2K
$5.79COP 18.5K
-33.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.63UZS 103.6K
$8.97COP 28.6K
-3.79%
Apples(1kg)
$0.81UZS 9,742
$2.32COP 7,405
-65.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68UZS 20.2K
$1.06COP 3,397
58.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.61UZS 19.3K
$1.52COP 4,838
5.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.45UZS 17.4K
$1.36COP 4,327
6.62%
Potato(1kg)
$0.46UZS 5,521
$1.13COP 3,599
-59.29%
Onion(1kg)
$0.17UZS 2,100
$1.17COP 3,738
-85.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.25UZS 3,020
$0.90COP 2,876
-72.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37UZS 4,498
$0.90COP 2,861
-58.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.56UZS 18.7K
$2.23COP 7,128
-30.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.40UZS 40.8K
$12.12COP 38.7K
-71.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92UZS 11.1K
$1.19COP 3,793
-22.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95UZS 23.4K
$2.48COP 7,920
-21.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23UZS 2,756
$0.85COP 2,723
-72.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.21UZS 38.6K
$41.62COP 132.8K
-92.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.41UZS 4,885
$1.42COP 4,518
-71.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.16UZS 1,969
$1.95COP 6,223
-91.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.34UZS 28.1K
$7.89COP 25.2K
-70.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01UZS 12.1K
$0.99COP 3,160
2.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9KUZS 239.2M
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
13.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0KUZS 300.5M
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
-6.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.90UZS 479.0K
$83.0COP 264.9K
-51.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.57UZS 42.9K
$9.70COP 30.9K
-63.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.59UZS 139.2K
$23.52COP 75.0K
-50.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.12UZS 445.6K
$25.26COP 80.6K
46.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.15UZS 73.9K
$19.10COP 60.9K
-67.80%
Cinema Ticket
$2.94UZS 35.3K
$3.95COP 12.6K
-25.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$117UZS 1.4M
$316COP 1.0M
-62.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,798UZS 57.6M
$5,975COP 19.1M
-19.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.65UZS 235.9K
$60.0COP 191.4K
-67.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.12UZS 481.7K
$31.82COP 101.5K
26.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.0UZS 840.0K
$102COP 324.4K
-31.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.2UZS 662.8K
$107COP 342.8K
-48.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$225UZS 2.7M
$475COP 1.5M
-52.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$129UZS 1.5M
$374COP 1.2M
-65.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$436UZS 5.2M
$849COP 2.7M
-48.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$293UZS 3.5M
$719COP 2.3M
-59.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,226UZS 14.7M
$3,265COP 10.4M
-62.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$533UZS 6.4M
$1,441COP 4.6M
-62.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samarkand
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$301UZS 3.6M
$624COP 2.0M
-51.83%
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $225 in Samarkand versus $475 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 108% 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 $17.00 in Samarkand versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $145 vs $193 – 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 85%, 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 $811 per month in Samarkand and $1,504 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 $17.00 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 and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $541 in Samarkand and $1,003 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 $541, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.