Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Abbottabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Abbottabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $307 in Abbottabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $489 in Abbottabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $671 in Abbottabad, rent included.

Medellin costs about 231% more than Abbottabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Abbottabad are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Abbottabad 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$1.80 PKR 500

230.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$12.27 PKR 3,412

171.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$5.25 PKR 1,459

37.71%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 502

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 PKR 498

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$1.44 PKR 401

13.19%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.34 PKR 93.3

220.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.23 PKR 64.0

217.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$0.76 PKR 211

38.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.61 PKR 170

111.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.15 PKR 321

14.78%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.18 PKR 328

92.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$3.46 PKR 963

25.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$2.28 PKR 633

157.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$4.53 PKR 1,261

90.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$0.85 PKR 237

164.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$0.73 PKR 204

46.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$0.82 PKR 228

85.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$0.51 PKR 141

178.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.30 PKR 82.6

290.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.51 PKR 143

129.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.31 PKR 85.9

187.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.18 PKR 49.12

400.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.94 PKR 539

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 PKR 252

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 PKR 551

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$1.73 PKR 481

30.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.26 PKR 72.8

223.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$6.88 PKR 1,914

509.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.86 PKR 240

63.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.44 PKR 122

331.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$2.78 PKR 773

178.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.89 PKR 247

13.48%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$21.0K PKR 5.8M

-16.42%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$26.0K PKR 7.2M

2.05%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$44.07 PKR 12.3K

89.88%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$3.06 PKR 850

208.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$18.81 PKR 5,231

28.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$17.35 PKR 4,823

45.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$3.43 PKR 955

458.02%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$4.32 PKR 1,202

-5.09%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$34.78 PKR 9,669

796.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$541 PKR 150.4K

1007.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$9.03 PKR 2,510

542.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$7.03 PKR 1,954

363.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$89.0 PKR 24.7K

11.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$12.52 PKR 3,480

766.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$36.06 PKR 10.0K

1237.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$20.86 PKR 5,799

1719.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$164 PKR 45.5K

411.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$42.81 PKR 11.9K

1589.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$238 PKR 66.1K

127.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

20.2

-33.51%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Abbottabad: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $36.06 in Abbottabad. 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 128% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $12.00 in Abbottabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $78.0 – making Abbottabad 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

Medellin vs Abbottabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 231% more than Abbottabad, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $460 in Abbottabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Abbottabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 510% less in Abbottabad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Medellin and $34.78 in Abbottabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Abbottabad, where all-in costs run around $307, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Abbottabad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Abbottabad costs $307 versus $1,017 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Abbottabad. 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.