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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,028 in Medellin versus $482 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Medellin versus $737 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,144 in Medellin versus $992 in Karachi.

Living in Medellin is roughly 113% more expensive than in Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.00 COP 20.6K

$2.08 PKR 578

188.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.84 COP 112.9K

$12.44 PKR 3,458

163.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.42 COP 25.5K

$4.07 PKR 1,130

82.31%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 PKR 557

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.42 PKR 1,506

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,675

$1.88 PKR 524

-12.23%

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

$1.07 COP 3,673

$0.34 PKR 93.2

214.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 COP 2,614

$0.23 PKR 64.0

230.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,925

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 COP 11.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,607

$0.80 PKR 223

31.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 COP 4,492

$0.54 PKR 149

142.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 COP 4,604

$1.12 PKR 311

19.64%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,543

$1.18 PKR 328

85.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.41 COP 15.2K

$6.61 PKR 1,838

-33.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.69 COP 19.6K

$3.19 PKR 886

78.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 COP 29.3K

$5.07 PKR 1,408

68.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,046

$1.05 PKR 291

122.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,815

$0.56 PKR 155

98.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,225

$0.89 PKR 247

70.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,694

$0.57 PKR 158

140.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 3,962

$0.35 PKR 98.6

228.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 COP 4,055

$0.47 PKR 130

151.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 COP 2,893

$0.35 PKR 98.0

140.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 COP 2,940

$0.41 PKR 113

109.76%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.27 PKR 354

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 366

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 568

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.26 COP 7,776

$2.11 PKR 586

7.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 COP 39.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,121

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 8,508

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,729

$0.36 PKR 100

119.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.83 COP 140.4K

$6.24 PKR 1,733

554.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,038

$0.73 PKR 203

101.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,587

$0.61 PKR 171

214.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 COP 26.7K

$1.75 PKR 487

344.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,474

$0.88 PKR 245

14.77%

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

$17.7K COP 60.7M

$16.6K PKR 4.6M

6.57%

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

$26.5K COP 90.9M

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

7.85%

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

$81.1 COP 278.8K

$133 PKR 36.9K

-38.94%

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

$9.43 COP 32.4K

$5.11 PKR 1,419

84.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.86 COP 82.0K

$13.67 PKR 3,800

74.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.99 COP 89.4K

$15.52 PKR 4,314

67.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.71 COP 64.3K

$14.45 PKR 4,017

29.48%

Cinema Ticket

$4.09 COP 14.1K

$4.21 PKR 1,171

-2.85%

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

$315 COP 1.1M

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

442.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,022 COP 20.7M

$1,384 PKR 384.7K

335.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 COP 205.2K

$17.48 PKR 4,859

241.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.97 COP 109.9K

$24.97 PKR 6,942

28.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 347.9K

$64.6 PKR 18.0K

56.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 COP 361.3K

$36.19 PKR 10.1K

190.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 COP 1.7M

$117 PKR 32.6K

313.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$365 COP 1.3M

$73.8 PKR 20.5K

394.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 COP 2.8M

$312 PKR 86.7K

165.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.5M

$182 PKR 50.5K

302.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,992 COP 10.3M

$929 PKR 258.1K

222.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,314 COP 4.5M

$437 PKR 121.4K

201.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$551 COP 1.9M

$176 PKR 48.9K

213.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

17.8

-24.55%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026

Last update for Karachi: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $485 in Medellin and $117 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 213% 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $12.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $97.0 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

Medellin vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin and Karachi differ by about 113% in total monthly costs ($1,028 vs $482 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 213% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $485 in Medellin versus $117 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,028 per month in Medellin versus $482 in Karachi – 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 554% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $482 in Karachi versus $1,028 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.