😐A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $353 in Nowshera, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $579 in Nowshera, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $805 in Nowshera, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 192% more than Nowshera, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Medellin and Nowshera are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Nowshera74% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Nowshera
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$2.89PKR 804
113.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$14.31PKR 3,974
127.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$5.35PKR 1,486
37.20%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.79PKR 498
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.92PKR 1,090
-
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$2.05PKR 569
-16.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$0.43PKR 118
144.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$0.24PKR 66.7
220.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Nowshera
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$0.79PKR 220
32.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$0.62PKR 172
109.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$1.21PKR 337
15.70%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$1.13PKR 313
91.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$6.34PKR 1,760
-30.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$2.76PKR 768
113.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$3.91PKR 1,086
120.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$0.59PKR 164
286.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$0.40PKR 112
177.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$0.89PKR 246
71.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$0.60PKR 167
125.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$0.41PKR 114
175.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$0.33PKR 92.5
242.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$0.31PKR 84.8
174.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.37PKR 102
145.95%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.48PKR 412
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.85PKR 235
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.37PKR 381
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$2.16PKR 600
8.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Nowshera
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$0.17PKR 47.59
394.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$7.23PKR 2,008
461.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$0.92PKR 254
54.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$0.43PKR 121
346.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$2.77PKR 768
176.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$0.98PKR 271
1.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$20.9KPKR 5.8M
-13.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$25.8KPKR 7.2M
3.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Nowshera
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$28.81PKR 7,999
180.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$2.11PKR 585
371.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$11.46PKR 3,183
110.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Nowshera
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$12.55PKR 3,486
99.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$5.92PKR 1,642
223.48%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$4.21PKR 1,168
-5.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Nowshera
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$59.1PKR 16.4K
416.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$1,108PKR 307.8K
446.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Nowshera
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$21.24PKR 5,898
173.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$28.23PKR 7,839
14.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$87.6PKR 24.3K
14.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$40.80PKR 11.3K
164.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Nowshera
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$75.9PKR 21.1K
528.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$51.1PKR 14.2K
636.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$166PKR 46.0K
409.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$104PKR 28.9K
602.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$871PKR 241.8K
269.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$531PKR 147.6K
158.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Nowshera
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
-
-
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 Nowshera: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $75.9 in Nowshera. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $14.00 in Nowshera. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $87.0 – making Nowshera 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 Nowshera: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nowshera cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 192%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $529 in Nowshera. 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 Nowshera, 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 Nowshera?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $14.00 in Nowshera. 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 Nowshera?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $353 in Nowshera. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Nowshera?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Nowshera, where all-in costs run around $353, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Nowshera it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Nowshera more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nowshera – 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 Nowshera. 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.