Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Nowshera Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Nowshera

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $499 in Nowshera, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $767 in Nowshera, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $1,035 in Nowshera, rent included.

Medellin costs about 244% more than Nowshera, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Nowshera is 64% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Nowshera
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03 COP 25.1K
$3.53 PKR 979
127.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26 COP 150.8K
$23.17 PKR 6,423
108.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.77 COP 30.5K
$5.46 PKR 1,513
78.94%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.54 PKR 982
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$7.00 PKR 1,940
-
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,095
$2.48 PKR 688
17.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 COP 6,074
$0.33 PKR 90.2
487.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 COP 4,754
$0.24 PKR 66.8
533.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 COP 9,663
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 COP 17.9K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Nowshera
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,262
$0.94 PKR 261
44.68%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,460
$0.74 PKR 206
222.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,314
$1.26 PKR 348
34.92%
Eggs
$2.87 COP 8,967
$1.23 PKR 342
133.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 COP 31.1K
$5.89 PKR 1,632
68.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.78 COP 33.7K
$3.19 PKR 885
237.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 COP 46.0K
$5.07 PKR 1,407
190.53%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 COP 12.8K
$1.27 PKR 352
222.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 COP 4,911
$0.82 PKR 228
91.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 COP 6,642
$1.07 PKR 297
99.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 COP 6,917
$0.46 PKR 128
380.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 COP 6,396
$0.27 PKR 74.6
659.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,700
$0.32 PKR 89.8
368.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 COP 3,718
$0.27 PKR 74.7
340.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 COP 3,619
$0.38 PKR 106
205.26%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.85 PKR 513
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.38 PKR 381
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.48 PKR 687
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$2.40 PKR 665
62.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.44 COP 45.1K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 4,948
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 8,836
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Nowshera
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,650
$0.20 PKR 55.6
485.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.7 COP 242.9K
$11.34 PKR 3,144
585.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,014
$1.24 PKR 344
3.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,537
$0.70 PKR 195
198.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.62 COP 26.9K
$1.64 PKR 454
425.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,056
$1.26 PKR 350
3.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K COP 86.4M
$21.8K PKR 6.1M
26.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K COP 110.9M
$25.1K PKR 7.0M
41.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Nowshera
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 COP 550.1K
$103 PKR 28.4K
71.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 41.8K
$5.88 PKR 1,630
127.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89 COP 93.4K
$16.19 PKR 4,489
84.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Nowshera
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.76 COP 139.8K
$15.94 PKR 4,420
180.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 COP 53.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 COP 19.4K
$4.73 PKR 1,312
31.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Nowshera
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 COP 2.5M
$74.9 PKR 20.8K
959.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,019 COP 28.2M
$999 PKR 277.0K
802.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Nowshera
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 COP 267.5K
$23.51 PKR 6,518
264.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5 COP 182.7K
$31.94 PKR 8,855
83.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 COP 425.9K
$82.4 PKR 22.8K
65.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 COP 322.2K
$39.52 PKR 11.0K
160.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Nowshera
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,060 COP 3.3M
$115 PKR 31.9K
820.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 COP 2.1M
$76.3 PKR 21.2K
790.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 COP 6.3M
$277 PKR 76.9K
625.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 COP 3.7M
$159 PKR 44.1K
634.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,111 COP 12.8M
$808 PKR 224.0K
408.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,701 COP 5.3M
$538 PKR 149.2K
216.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Nowshera
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$665 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
13.08
-16.36%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Nowshera: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $115 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $23.00 in Nowshera. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $101 – 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 244%, 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 $2,574 per month in Medellin and $749 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 $48.00 in Medellin and $23.00 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 $1,716 in Medellin and $499 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 $499, than in Medellin at $1,716. 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.

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