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