Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Gilgit Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Gilgit

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $385 in Gilgit, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $581 in Gilgit, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $778 in Gilgit, rent included.

Medellin costs about 161% more than Gilgit, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Gilgit are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Gilgit 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$1.78 PKR 495

232.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$10.62 PKR 2,948

210.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$4.13 PKR 1,146

79.90%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 PKR 500

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 PKR 1,007

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$1.51 PKR 418

9.27%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.34 PKR 95.6

223.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.23 PKR 63.9

239.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$0.77 PKR 215

42.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.60 PKR 167

110.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.20 PKR 333

15.00%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.31 PKR 363

66.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$3.95 PKR 1,097

13.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$3.02 PKR 837

91.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$3.74 PKR 1,037

139.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$0.52 PKR 144

346.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$0.51 PKR 142

107.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$0.65 PKR 181

133.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$0.50 PKR 140

172.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.35 PKR 96.3

222.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.64 PKR 178

82.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.33 PKR 92.8

172.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.47 PKR 132

91.49%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.43 PKR 397

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 254

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$1.97 PKR 547

13.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.20 PKR 55.5

325.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$7.24 PKR 2,008

474.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.90 PKR 250

57.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.43 PKR 119

353.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$1.82 PKR 504

333.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.90 PKR 248

10.00%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

-17.28%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$22.5K PKR 6.2M

19.09%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$101 PKR 28.0K

-17.80%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$1.89 PKR 526

413.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$13.94 PKR 3,870

68.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$12.50 PKR 3,468

102.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$6.10 PKR 1,693

213.11%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$3.62 PKR 1,005

9.12%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$13.89 PKR 3,855

2173.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$1,124 PKR 311.9K

431.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$15.08 PKR 4,185

297.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$22.07 PKR 6,126

44.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$69.2 PKR 19.2K

47.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$28.80 PKR 7,993

273.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

534.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

610.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$167 PKR 46.3K

409.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$107 PKR 29.8K

570.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$892 PKR 247.5K

266.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$480 PKR 133.3K

199.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$179 PKR 49.8K

248.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-29.32%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Gilgit: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $74.9 in Gilgit. 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 248% 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 $11.00 in Gilgit. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $82.0 – making Gilgit 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 Gilgit: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 161% more than Gilgit, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $577 in Gilgit. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 136% 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 $33.00 in Medellin and $11.00 in Gilgit. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Gilgit, where all-in costs run around $385, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Gilgit it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gilgit costs $385 versus $1,003 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Gilgit. 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.