Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and OkaraCost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Okara
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $303 in Okara, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $447 in Okara, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $592 in Okara, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 242% more than Okara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Medellin and Okara are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Okara77% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Okara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$1.05PKR 293
463.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$10.41PKR 2,903
214.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$4.16PKR 1,158
73.08%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.87PKR 801
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.81PKR 505
-
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$1.19PKR 331
42.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$0.33PKR 91.3
233.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$0.23PKR 64.2
213.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Okara
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$0.72PKR 201
47.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$0.44PKR 122
184.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$1.17PKR 326
18.80%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$1.16PKR 324
94.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$2.25PKR 628
92.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$2.33PKR 649
150.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$3.21PKR 896
175.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$1.07PKR 298
109.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$0.51PKR 142
111.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$0.42PKR 117
264.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$0.45PKR 124
204.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$0.33PKR 90.7
242.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$0.51PKR 142
119.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$0.39PKR 109
117.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$0.29PKR 81.3
213.79%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$0.69PKR 192
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.34PKR 93.6
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.90PKR 252
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$1.52PKR 423
53.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Okara
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$0.10PKR 27.66
690.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
$2.86PKR 798
1338.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$0.70PKR 194
105.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$0.49PKR 137
289.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$1.80PKR 501
345.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$0.96PKR 269
-2.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$17.6KPKR 4.9M
1.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$23.1KPKR 6.4M
15.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Okara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$89.0PKR 24.8K
-5.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$3.15PKR 879
204.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$10.40PKR 2,900
132.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Okara
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$12.51PKR 3,488
106.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
$5.83PKR 1,625
226.59%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$4.16PKR 1,159
-5.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Okara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$14.22PKR 3,963
2054.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$1,255PKR 349.9K
371.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Okara
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$15.02PKR 4,187
285.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$21.53PKR 6,003
47.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$31.30PKR 8,725
219.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$30.71PKR 8,560
248.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Okara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$27.84PKR 7,761
1648.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$17.77PKR 4,955
1971.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$42.28PKR 11.8K
1852.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$31.91PKR 8,895
2144.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
$740PKR 206.3K
295.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
$505PKR 140.7K
178.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Okara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
$143PKR 39.8K
282.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
19.88
-32.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Okara: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $27.84 in Okara. 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 282% 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 $10.00 in Okara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $68.0 – making Okara 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 Okara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Okara cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 242%, 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $454 in Okara. 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 Okara, 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 Okara?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $10.00 in Okara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Okara?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $303 in Okara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Okara?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Okara, where all-in costs run around $303, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Okara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Okara more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Okara – 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 Okara. 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.