Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $589 per month in Islamabad vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $918 per month in Islamabad vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,246 per month in Islamabad vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Islamabad is about 66% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Islamabad sits 57% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 PKR 990

$8.03 COP 25.2K

-55.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 PKR 6,309

$48.26 COP 151.7K

-52.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PKR 1,517

$9.77 COP 30.7K

-44.01%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 986

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,862

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$2.91 COP 9,149

-17.87%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$1.94 COP 6,110

-83.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$1.52 COP 4,783

-85.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 COP 9,721

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 COP 18.1K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 275

$1.36 COP 4,287

-27.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 220

$2.39 COP 7,505

-66.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 354

$1.70 COP 5,346

-24.71%

Eggs

$1.28 PKR 356

$2.87 COP 9,021

-55.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,695

$9.94 COP 31.2K

-38.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 PKR 849

$10.78 COP 33.9K

-71.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,421

$14.73 COP 46.3K

-65.24%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 PKR 371

$4.09 COP 12.8K

-67.24%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$1.57 COP 4,940

-46.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$2.13 COP 6,682

-52.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$2.21 COP 6,959

-77.83%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.2

$2.05 COP 6,435

-85.85%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.4

$1.50 COP 4,728

-78.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$1.19 COP 3,740

-75.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$1.16 COP 3,640

-67.24%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 652

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 PKR 632

$3.90 COP 12.2K

-41.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.44 COP 45.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 COP 4,978

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 COP 8,889

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.31

$1.17 COP 3,672

-86.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,889

$77.7 COP 244.3K

-72.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 PKR 353

$1.28 COP 4,038

-0.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 191

$2.09 COP 6,576

-66.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 459

$8.62 COP 27.1K

-80.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.30 COP 4,080

1.54%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

$27.7K COP 86.9M

95.05%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$35.5K COP 111.6M

-29.30%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$102 PKR 28.3K

$176 COP 553.4K

-42.01%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$5.83 PKR 1,618

$13.37 COP 42.0K

-56.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.34 PKR 4,534

$29.89 COP 94.0K

-45.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.09 PKR 8,071

$44.76 COP 140.7K

-35.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,478

$17.06 COP 53.6K

-47.66%

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 PKR 1,390

$6.20 COP 19.5K

-19.19%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

$793 COP 2.5M

-90.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$9,019 COP 28.4M

-43.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.55 PKR 6,532

$85.6 COP 269.1K

-72.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.68 PKR 9,066

$58.5 COP 183.8K

-44.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

$136 COP 428.4K

-38.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

$103 COP 324.1K

-61.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$1,060 COP 3.3M

-73.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 PKR 40.0K

$680 COP 2.1M

-78.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 PKR 160.1K

$2,012 COP 6.3M

-71.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.9K

$1,169 COP 3.7M

-77.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.5K

$4,111 COP 12.9M

-60.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 230.1K

$1,701 COP 5.3M

-51.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.8K

$665 COP 2.1M

-42.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

10.94

19.56%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $277 in Islamabad versus $1,060 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 74% 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 $23.00 in Islamabad versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $303 – making Islamabad 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

Islamabad vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 191%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $884 per month in Islamabad and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Islamabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 196% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Islamabad and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Islamabad, where all-in costs run around $589, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Islamabad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Islamabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Islamabad. 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.