Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mehar Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mehar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,018 per month in Medellin vs $391 in Mehar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,609 per month in Medellin vs $589 in Mehar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,200 per month in Medellin vs $786 in Mehar, rent included.

Medellin costs about 160% more than Mehar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Mehar are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Mehar 71% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Mehar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.93 COP 19.0K
$1.81 PKR 502
227.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.12 COP 106.0K
$10.63 PKR 2,952
211.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.12 COP 22.8K
$4.01 PKR 1,114
77.56%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.74 PKR 483
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.49 PKR 969
-
Cappuccino
$1.71 COP 5,457
$1.43 PKR 397
19.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,356
$0.31 PKR 87.1
238.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,311
$0.23 PKR 63.9
213.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,502
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.2K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Mehar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,408
$0.75 PKR 209
41.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,192
$0.60 PKR 168
118.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 4,256
$1.21 PKR 335
9.92%
Eggs
$2.28 COP 7,298
$1.13 PKR 313
101.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.42 COP 14.1K
$5.90 PKR 1,639
-25.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.92 COP 18.9K
$2.59 PKR 718
128.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 27.7K
$3.63 PKR 1,009
138.02%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COP 7,504
$1.01 PKR 280
131.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 COP 3,527
$0.64 PKR 179
71.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 COP 4,698
$0.63 PKR 174
133.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,415
$0.52 PKR 145
165.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,754
$0.34 PKR 95.0
244.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,744
$0.51 PKR 141
129.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,890
$0.34 PKR 93.2
164.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 2,693
$0.37 PKR 102
127.03%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.33 PKR 369
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.87 PKR 241
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.04 PKR 567
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 7,449
$1.92 PKR 534
21.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.92 COP 38.1K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 COP 3,673
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 COP 7,749
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Mehar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,687
$0.19 PKR 53.0
342.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.83 COP 130.7K
$7.05 PKR 1,957
479.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 4,517
$0.92 PKR 254
53.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,127
$0.40 PKR 111
377.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.83 COP 25.0K
$1.73 PKR 479
352.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,020
$0.90 PKR 249
4.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8K COP 57.0M
$21.1K PKR 5.9M
-15.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K COP 86.7M
$22.7K PKR 6.3M
19.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Mehar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.3 COP 266.4K
$103 PKR 28.5K
-19.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.66 COP 30.9K
$3.94 PKR 1,095
145.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.22 COP 77.5K
$13.98 PKR 3,882
73.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Mehar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.22 COP 80.7K
$12.18 PKR 3,380
107.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.33 COP 61.9K
$5.88 PKR 1,633
228.74%
Cinema Ticket
$4.07 COP 13.0K
$3.44 PKR 956
18.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Mehar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 COP 981.2K
$29.49 PKR 8,186
939.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,981 COP 19.1M
$1,128 PKR 313.2K
430.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Mehar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 191.9K
$15.46 PKR 4,292
287.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.65 COP 104.5K
$22.26 PKR 6,180
46.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 323.5K
$70.4 PKR 19.5K
43.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 345.7K
$29.10 PKR 8,080
271.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Mehar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COP 1.5M
$75.2 PKR 20.9K
532.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.2M
$51.4 PKR 14.3K
637.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$816 COP 2.6M
$165 PKR 45.9K
394.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$707 COP 2.3M
$104 PKR 28.9K
578.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,190 COP 10.2M
$787 PKR 218.5K
305.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,446 COP 4.6M
$434 PKR 120.5K
233.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Mehar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$622 COP 2.0M
$109 PKR 30.3K
470.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
19
-29.32%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026

Last update for Mehar: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $75.2 in Mehar. 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 470% 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 Mehar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $86.0 – making Mehar 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 Mehar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mehar cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 160%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,527 per month in Medellin and $586 in Mehar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mehar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Mehar?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $11.00 in Mehar. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Mehar?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,018 in Medellin and $391 in Mehar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Mehar?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mehar, where all-in costs run around $391, than in Medellin at $1,018. In Mehar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Mehar more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mehar – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mehar. 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.

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