Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $484 in Karachi versus $1,031 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Karachi versus $1,599 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $987 in Karachi versus $2,167 in Medellin.

Living in Karachi costs roughly 53% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 572

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-66.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.56 PKR 3,487

$32.60 COP 106.1K

-61.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 PKR 1,108

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-45.64%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 PKR 537

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 503

$1.72 COP 5,600

5.23%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$1.05 COP 3,420

-68.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.77 COP 2,515

-72.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,488

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$1.05 COP 3,423

-24.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$1.30 COP 4,236

-55.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 328

$1.40 COP 4,544

-15.71%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 321

$2.16 COP 7,047

-46.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,781

$4.39 COP 14.3K

46.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 PKR 867

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-46.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 PKR 1,413

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-41.09%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$2.28 COP 7,426

-54.82%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$1.11 COP 3,604

-45.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$1.53 COP 4,983

-39.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$1.35 COP 4,410

-57.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$1.13 COP 3,674

-69.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$1.13 COP 3,692

-55.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.8

$0.85 COP 2,753

-57.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.91 COP 2,975

-54.95%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 367

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 573

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 PKR 599

$2.34 COP 7,630

-7.69%

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)

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.84 COP 2,728

-60.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.43 PKR 1,785

$40.57 COP 132.1K

-84.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$1.42 COP 4,623

-47.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 170

$1.92 COP 6,235

-68.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 484

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-77.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.99 COP 3,223

-5.05%

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

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

$18.0K COP 58.7M

-7.14%

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

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

$26.6K COP 86.7M

-5.09%

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

$134 PKR 37.3K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

66.27%

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

$5.00 PKR 1,388

$9.95 COP 32.4K

-49.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.28 PKR 3,689

$24.18 COP 78.7K

-45.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.87 PKR 4,406

$25.08 COP 81.7K

-36.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 PKR 3,984

$19.15 COP 62.3K

-25.07%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$3.98 COP 13.0K

9.05%

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

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

$305 COP 993.5K

-80.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-77.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.71 PKR 4,919

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-69.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.79 PKR 7,163

$32.20 COP 104.8K

-19.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$101 COP 327.9K

-36.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.84 PKR 9,953

$108 COP 350.8K

-66.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$477 COP 1.6M

-75.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

$376 COP 1.2M

-80.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 PKR 88.6K

$845 COP 2.7M

-62.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.3K

$730 COP 2.4M

-75.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$932 PKR 258.7K

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-71.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$433 PKR 120.3K

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-68.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

$617 COP 2.0M

-71.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

13.43

32.54%

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

Last update for Karachi: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Karachi and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 249% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $13.00 in Karachi vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $193 per month, with Karachi 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

Karachi vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Medellin differ by about 113% in total monthly costs ($484 vs $1,031 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 249% lower in Medellin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $118 in Karachi versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $484 per month in Karachi versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 113% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 531% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $484 in Karachi versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Karachi but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Karachi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 113% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.