Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $534 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $847 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,160 in Islamabad, rent included.

Medellin costs about 93% more than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$2.85 PKR 791

116.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$14.26 PKR 3,960

128.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$5.44 PKR 1,511

34.93%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 477

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,061

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$1.97 PKR 547

-12.69%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.40 PKR 110

162.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.24 PKR 67.0

220.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$0.96 PKR 268

9.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$0.66 PKR 183

96.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.28 PKR 355

9.37%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$1.20 PKR 334

80.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$6.07 PKR 1,687

-27.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$3.37 PKR 937

74.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$4.35 PKR 1,209

98.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$1.04 PKR 289

119.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$0.84 PKR 234

32.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$0.91 PKR 253

68.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$0.56 PKR 156

141.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$0.41 PKR 115

175.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$0.57 PKR 158

98.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$0.31 PKR 85.4

174.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.41 PKR 113

121.95%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.00 PKR 555

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 258

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$2.14 PKR 595

9.35%

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)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$0.17 PKR 46.51

394.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$7.22 PKR 2,005

461.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$0.85 PKR 236

67.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$0.43 PKR 120

346.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$2.79 PKR 775

174.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$0.98 PKR 271

1.02%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

-13.73%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

2.65%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$114 PKR 31.6K

-28.93%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$5.41 PKR 1,501

83.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$18.69 PKR 5,190

29.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$22.13 PKR 6,144

13.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$6.12 PKR 1,698

212.91%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$4.14 PKR 1,150

-3.86%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

407.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$2,753 PKR 764.4K

120.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$21.08 PKR 5,854

175.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$27.64 PKR 7,674

16.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

14.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

163.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$199 PKR 55.3K

139.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$110 PKR 30.5K

241.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$505 PKR 140.1K

67.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$299 PKR 83.0K

144.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

112.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$647 PKR 179.8K

111.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$385 PKR 106.9K

60.20%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $199 in Islamabad. 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 60% 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 $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $100 – making Islamabad 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 Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 93%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $801 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 94% 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 $14.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Islamabad, where all-in costs run around $534, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Islamabad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Islamabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Islamabad. 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.