🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $392 in Jhelum versus $1,716 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $596 in Jhelum versus $2,527 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $800 in Jhelum versus $3,338 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Jhelum costs roughly 77% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Jhelum is 72% below, Medellin is 25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jhelum
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.79PKR 495
$8.03COP 25.3K
-77.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.81PKR 2,995
$48.26COP 152.0K
-77.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.27PKR 1,460
$9.77COP 30.8K
-46.06%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.54PKR 704
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22PKR 615
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.52PKR 421
$2.91COP 9,167
-47.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43PKR 119
$1.94COP 6,122
-77.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30PKR 81.8
$1.52COP 4,792
-80.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.09COP 9,740
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.74COP 18.1K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jhelum
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.64PKR 177
$1.36COP 4,296
-52.94%
White Bread(500g)
$0.61PKR 168
$2.39COP 7,519
-74.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23PKR 340
$1.70COP 5,356
-27.65%
Eggs
$1.22PKR 339
$2.87COP 9,038
-57.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.57PKR 713
$9.94COP 31.3K
-74.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.32PKR 643
$10.78COP 34.0K
-78.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$2.72PKR 754
$14.73COP 46.4K
-81.53%
Apples(1kg)
$1.09PKR 302
$4.09COP 12.9K
-73.35%
Banana(1kg)
$0.35PKR 96.6
$1.57COP 4,950
-77.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.54PKR 150
$2.13COP 6,695
-74.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.47PKR 129
$2.21COP 6,972
-78.73%
Potato(1kg)
$0.31PKR 86.9
$2.05COP 6,447
-84.88%
Onion(1kg)
$0.35PKR 95.7
$1.50COP 4,737
-76.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.50PKR 138
$1.19COP 3,747
-57.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42PKR 117
$1.16COP 3,647
-63.79%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.82PKR 506
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.55PKR 154
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72PKR 753
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33PKR 645
$3.90COP 12.3K
-40.26%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$14.44COP 45.5K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.58COP 4,987
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.83COP 8,905
-
🚌 Getting Around
Jhelum
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17PKR 46.47
$1.17COP 3,679
-85.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.75PKR 2,424
$77.7COP 244.8K
-88.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10PKR 304
$1.28COP 4,045
-14.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05PKR 291
$2.09COP 6,589
-49.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.82PKR 781
$8.62COP 27.1K
-67.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12PKR 309
$1.30COP 4,088
-13.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1KPKR 6.4M
$27.7KCOP 87.1M
-16.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8KPKR 6.3M
$35.5KCOP 111.8M
-35.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jhelum
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.8PKR 18.5K
$176COP 554.5K
-62.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.54PKR 1,536
$13.37COP 42.1K
-58.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.61PKR 4,049
$29.89COP 94.1K
-51.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jhelum
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.94PKR 3,586
$44.76COP 141.0K
-71.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.06COP 53.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.25PKR 2,008
$6.20COP 19.5K
16.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jhelum
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$26.69PKR 7,397
$793COP 2.5M
-96.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,005PKR 555.6K
$9,019COP 28.4M
-77.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jhelum
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.80PKR 5,210
$85.6COP 269.6K
-78.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.60PKR 7,373
$58.5COP 184.1K
-54.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$54.3PKR 15.0K
$136COP 429.3K
-60.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.28PKR 8,392
$103COP 324.7K
-70.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jhelum
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$116PKR 32.3K
$1,060COP 3.3M
-89.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$79.7PKR 22.1K
$680COP 2.1M
-88.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$243PKR 67.3K
$2,012COP 6.3M
-87.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$152PKR 42.1K
$1,169COP 3.7M
-87.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$991PKR 274.5K
$4,111COP 12.9M
-75.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$534PKR 148.1K
$1,701COP 5.4M
-68.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jhelum
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$665COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.83
10.94
8.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jhelum: September 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $116 in Jhelum and $1,060 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $11.00 in Jhelum vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $70.0 vs $303 per month, with Jhelum cheaper across the board.
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
Jhelum vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Jhelum?
Jhelum is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 338% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $587 in Jhelum and $2,574 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Jhelum and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $116 in Jhelum versus $1,060 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Jhelum and in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 331% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Jhelum or in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Jhelum – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Jhelum or in Medellin?
At $392 in Jhelum versus $1,716 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jhelum but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Jhelum the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Jhelum or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Jhelum is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Jhelum or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Jhelum and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Jhelum gentler on the wallet – expenses run 338% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.