🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $325 in Jhelum versus $1,013 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $512 in Jhelum versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $700 in Jhelum versus $2,192 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Jhelum costs roughly 68% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Jhelum76% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jhelum
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.78PKR 496
$5.99COP 21.4K
-70.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.47PKR 2,911
$32.86COP 117.2K
-68.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.58PKR 996
$7.09COP 25.3K
-49.51%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.90PKR 806
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90PKR 1,363
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.51PKR 419
$1.71COP 6,105
-11.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33PKR 91.9
$1.10COP 3,918
-70.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24PKR 67.0
$0.78COP 2,776
-69.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.68COP 5,987
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.07COP 10.9K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jhelum
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.56PKR 156
$1.09COP 3,899
-48.62%
White Bread(500g)
$0.59PKR 165
$1.26COP 4,500
-53.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26PKR 351
$1.38COP 4,914
-8.70%
Eggs
$1.15PKR 320
$2.19COP 7,813
-47.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.06PKR 1,408
$4.40COP 15.7K
15.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.38PKR 662
$5.63COP 20.1K
-57.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.07PKR 854
$8.89COP 31.7K
-65.47%
Apples(1kg)
$1.03PKR 287
$2.34COP 8,334
-55.98%
Banana(1kg)
$0.54PKR 151
$1.06COP 3,771
-49.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.63PKR 175
$1.50COP 5,365
-58.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.51PKR 142
$1.38COP 4,915
-63.04%
Potato(1kg)
$0.35PKR 96.9
$1.15COP 4,104
-69.57%
Onion(1kg)
$0.55PKR 154
$1.16COP 4,148
-52.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.19PKR 51.5
$0.89COP 3,176
-78.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.22PKR 61.2
$0.84COP 2,992
-73.81%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.01PKR 282
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.73PKR 204
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98PKR 550
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.84PKR 235
$2.28COP 8,131
-63.16%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.64COP 37.9K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.20COP 4,276
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.47COP 8,809
-
🚌 Getting Around
Jhelum
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKR 51.0
$0.86COP 3,051
-79.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.92PKR 1,924
$41.40COP 147.6K
-83.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.07PKR 299
$1.47COP 5,255
-27.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53PKR 148
$1.96COP 6,997
-72.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.79PKR 497
$7.74COP 27.6K
-76.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97PKR 269
$0.95COP 3,403
2.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2KPKR 6.2M
$18.1KCOP 64.6M
22.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8KPKR 5.8M
$26.5KCOP 94.4M
-21.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jhelum
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$52.9PKR 14.7K
$82.3COP 293.2K
-35.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.87PKR 799
$9.50COP 33.9K
-69.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.02PKR 3,623
$24.23COP 86.4K
-46.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jhelum
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.58PKR 3,500
$25.89COP 92.3K
-51.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.85PKR 1,628
$19.00COP 67.7K
-69.21%
Cinema Ticket
$3.44PKR 957
$3.93COP 14.0K
-12.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jhelum
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$17.79PKR 4,950
$309COP 1.1M
-94.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,111PKR 309.1K
$5,965COP 21.3M
-81.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jhelum
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.17PKR 4,498
$58.7COP 209.1K
-72.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.32PKR 6,210
$32.35COP 115.3K
-31.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.8PKR 16.6K
$103COP 365.7K
-41.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.22PKR 7,294
$108COP 386.5K
-75.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jhelum
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$74.5PKR 20.7K
$476COP 1.7M
-84.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$52.4PKR 14.6K
$379COP 1.4M
-86.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$164PKR 45.5K
$838COP 3.0M
-80.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$108PKR 29.9K
$724COP 2.6M
-85.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$851PKR 236.6K
$2,791COP 9.9M
-69.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$454PKR 126.3K
$1,211COP 4.3M
-62.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jhelum
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$512COP 1.8M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
18
13.43
34.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jhelum: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $74.5 in Jhelum and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $10.00 in Jhelum vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $76.0 vs $188 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 212% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $487 in Jhelum and $1,519 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: $74.5 in Jhelum versus $476 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 Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 146% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Jhelum or Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Jhelum – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Jhelum or Medellin?
At $325 in Jhelum versus $1,013 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 212% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.