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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $534 per month in Islamabad vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $847 per month in Islamabad vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,160 per month in Islamabad vs $2,167 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 60% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.85 PKR 791

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-53.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.26 PKR 3,960

$32.60 COP 106.1K

-56.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,511

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-25.89%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 477

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,061

Cappuccino

$1.97 PKR 547

$1.72 COP 5,599

14.53%

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

$0.40 PKR 110

$1.05 COP 3,420

-61.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.0

$0.77 COP 2,515

-68.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 268

$1.05 COP 3,423

-8.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 183

$1.30 COP 4,236

-49.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.40 COP 4,544

-8.57%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 334

$2.16 COP 7,046

-44.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,687

$4.39 COP 14.3K

38.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 PKR 937

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-42.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-49.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$2.28 COP 7,425

-54.39%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 234

$1.11 COP 3,603

-24.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.53 COP 4,982

-40.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$1.35 COP 4,410

-58.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$1.13 COP 3,674

-63.72%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$1.13 COP 3,692

-49.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 85.4

$0.85 COP 2,753

-63.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.91 COP 2,975

-54.95%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.00 PKR 555

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 258

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 595

$2.34 COP 7,629

-8.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.51

$0.84 COP 2,727

-79.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.22 PKR 2,005

$40.57 COP 132.1K

-82.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 236

$1.42 COP 4,623

-40.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 120

$1.92 COP 6,235

-77.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 PKR 775

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-63.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

$0.99 COP 3,223

-1.01%

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

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

$18.0K COP 58.7M

15.92%

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

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

$26.6K COP 86.7M

-2.58%

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

$114 PKR 31.6K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

40.70%

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

$5.41 PKR 1,501

$9.95 COP 32.4K

-45.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 PKR 5,190

$24.18 COP 78.7K

-22.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.13 PKR 6,144

$25.08 COP 81.6K

-11.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.12 PKR 1,698

$19.15 COP 62.3K

-68.04%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,150

$3.98 COP 13.0K

4.02%

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

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

$305 COP 993.4K

-80.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,753 PKR 764.4K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-54.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.08 PKR 5,854

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-63.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.64 PKR 7,674

$32.20 COP 104.8K

-14.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$101 COP 327.9K

-12.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

$108 COP 350.8K

-62.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 PKR 55.3K

$477 COP 1.6M

-58.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.5K

$376 COP 1.2M

-70.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 PKR 140.1K

$845 COP 2.7M

-40.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 PKR 83.0K

$730 COP 2.4M

-59.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-52.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.8K

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-52.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$385 PKR 106.9K

$617 COP 2.0M

-37.58%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $199 in Islamabad versus $477 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 60% 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: $100 vs $193 – 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 93%, 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 $801 per month in Islamabad and $1,546 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 94% 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 $534, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.