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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Islamabad vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $835 per month in Islamabad vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,141 per month in Islamabad vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Islamabad is about 48% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Islamabad and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 61% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 PKR 779

$5.99 COP 21.3K

-53.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,955

$32.86 COP 116.9K

-56.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$7.09 COP 25.2K

-23.27%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 557

$1.71 COP 6,093

16.96%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$1.10 COP 3,910

-60.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.78 COP 2,771

-71.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,976

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$1.09 COP 3,892

-13.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 173

$1.26 COP 4,492

-50.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.38 COP 4,905

-12.32%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$2.19 COP 7,799

-45.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,689

$4.40 COP 15.7K

37.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$5.63 COP 20.0K

-39.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 PKR 1,218

$8.89 COP 31.6K

-50.73%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$2.34 COP 8,319

-55.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$1.06 COP 3,764

-26.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 260

$1.50 COP 5,355

-38.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$1.38 COP 4,906

-56.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$1.15 COP 4,097

-64.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$1.16 COP 4,141

-53.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$0.89 COP 3,170

-61.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.84 COP 2,986

-55.95%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.93 PKR 537

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 552

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 596

$2.28 COP 8,116

-6.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,268

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,793

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.86 COP 3,045

-77.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,921

$41.40 COP 147.3K

-83.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 238

$1.47 COP 5,245

-41.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$1.96 COP 6,984

-77.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 782

$7.74 COP 27.5K

-63.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.95 COP 3,397

-4.21%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$18.1K COP 64.5M

18.64%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$26.5K COP 94.2M

-1.28%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$82.3 COP 292.7K

35.85%

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

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$9.50 COP 33.8K

-42.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.81 PKR 5,234

$24.23 COP 86.2K

-22.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.19 PKR 6,174

$25.89 COP 92.1K

-14.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 PKR 1,679

$19.00 COP 67.6K

-68.21%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,171

$3.93 COP 14.0K

7.12%

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

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

$309 COP 1.1M

-80.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

$5,965 COP 21.2M

-52.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.57 PKR 5,999

$58.7 COP 208.7K

-63.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.63 PKR 7,686

$32.35 COP 115.1K

-14.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

$103 COP 365.1K

-14.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$108 COP 385.8K

-63.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PKR 55.1K

$476 COP 1.7M

-58.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$379 COP 1.3M

-70.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.6K

$838 COP 3.0M

-38.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PKR 82.3K

$724 COP 2.6M

-59.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

$2,791 COP 9.9M

-44.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 PKR 182.9K

$1,211 COP 4.3M

-45.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

$512 COP 1.8M

-24.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

13.43

50.41%

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

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Islamabad versus $476 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 32% 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 $14.00 in Islamabad versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $98.0 vs $188 – 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 91%, 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 $794 per month in Islamabad and $1,519 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 92% 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 $14.00 in Islamabad and $33.00 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 $529, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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.