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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $593 per month in Islamabad vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $929 per month in Islamabad vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,264 per month in Islamabad vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Islamabad is about 65% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Islamabad sits 57% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 PKR 985

$8.02 COP 24.9K

-55.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.22 PKR 6,431

$47.87 COP 148.7K

-51.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,507

$9.89 COP 30.7K

-44.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 PKR 1,027

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 PKR 1,866

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 694

$3.13 COP 9,724

-19.81%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.1

$1.91 COP 5,928

-82.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$1.51 COP 4,692

-86.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,705

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$1.44 COP 4,489

-34.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 PKR 209

$2.49 COP 7,725

-69.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.77 COP 5,510

-29.38%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$2.96 COP 9,195

-59.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 PKR 1,679

$10.07 COP 31.3K

-39.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 PKR 886

$10.12 COP 31.4K

-68.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.46 PKR 1,512

$14.30 COP 44.4K

-61.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 346

$4.14 COP 12.8K

-69.81%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 PKR 224

$1.61 COP 4,997

-49.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$2.25 COP 6,976

-54.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$2.25 COP 6,997

-76.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.2

$2.04 COP 6,347

-87.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.7

$1.54 COP 4,769

-78.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 83.6

$1.17 COP 3,635

-74.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 118

$1.31 COP 4,059

-67.94%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.01 PKR 556

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 PKR 343

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 PKR 719

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 PKR 641

$3.90 COP 12.1K

-40.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,415

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,917

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.7

$1.22 COP 3,776

-83.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.86 PKR 6,057

$80.5 COP 250.0K

-72.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 PKR 358

$1.31 COP 4,066

-1.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

$2.19 COP 6,796

-66.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 PKR 445

$8.71 COP 27.1K

-81.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PKR 348

$1.37 COP 4,241

-8.76%

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

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

$27.8K COP 86.5M

94.72%

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

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

$35.8K COP 111.1M

-31.24%

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

$104 PKR 28.9K

$177 COP 550.8K

-41.10%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,628

$13.88 COP 43.1K

-57.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.18 PKR 4,481

$29.72 COP 92.4K

-45.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.70 PKR 7,951

$44.88 COP 139.4K

-36.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,345

$17.12 COP 53.2K

-50.58%

Cinema Ticket

$4.37 PKR 1,210

$6.65 COP 20.6K

-34.29%

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

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

$813 COP 2.5M

-90.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$9,187 COP 28.5M

-44.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.08 PKR 6,947

$89.5 COP 278.0K

-71.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.11 PKR 9,727

$59.0 COP 183.2K

-40.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

$138 COP 429.4K

-29.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

$102 COP 317.3K

-60.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 PKR 77.0K

$1,062 COP 3.3M

-73.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 PKR 38.3K

$663 COP 2.1M

-79.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 PKR 163.5K

$1,888 COP 5.9M

-68.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$1,027 COP 3.2M

-73.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 PKR 450.1K

$4,183 COP 13.0M

-61.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 PKR 226.1K

$1,675 COP 5.2M

-51.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 PKR 104.9K

$678 COP 2.1M

-44.11%

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $278 in Islamabad versus $1,062 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 79% 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 $305 – 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 183%, 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 $890 per month in Islamabad and $2,521 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 $593, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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.