Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Okara Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Okara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $298 in Okara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $443 in Okara, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $588 in Okara, rent included.

Medellin costs about 237% more than Okara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Okara are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Okara 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$1.07 PKR 297

452.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$10.75 PKR 2,983

206.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$4.28 PKR 1,188

73.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 PKR 799

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 PKR 504

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$1.20 PKR 332

37.50%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.35 PKR 98.5

214.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.23 PKR 63.8

239.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$0.72 PKR 200

52.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.44 PKR 121

186.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.16 PKR 323

18.97%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.20 PKR 333

81.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$2.19 PKR 608

105.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$2.26 PKR 626

156.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$3.25 PKR 903

176.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$1.05 PKR 293

120.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$0.51 PKR 140

107.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$0.40 PKR 110

280.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$0.48 PKR 133

183.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.35 PKR 98.5

222.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.48 PKR 133

143.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.43 PKR 119

109.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.29 PKR 81.3

210.34%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.06 PKR 296

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 PKR 92.8

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 PKR 238

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$1.47 PKR 408

51.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.10 PKR 26.64

750.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$2.78 PKR 770

1397.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.74 PKR 205

91.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.50 PKR 138

290.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$1.81 PKR 503

335.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.87 PKR 243

13.79%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

0.53%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$23.7K PKR 6.6M

12.87%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$87.0 PKR 24.1K

-4.55%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$3.11 PKR 863

211.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$10.68 PKR 2,963

120.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$12.61 PKR 3,499

100.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$5.91 PKR 1,639

223.18%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$4.31 PKR 1,197

-8.35%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$316 COP 994.2K

$14.36 PKR 3,986

2099.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$1,236 PKR 343.1K

383.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$14.92 PKR 4,140

302.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$21.12 PKR 5,861

50.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$31.97 PKR 8,871

218.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$29.57 PKR 8,206

263.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$28.58 PKR 7,932

1561.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$17.73 PKR 4,919

2009.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$43.20 PKR 12.0K

1865.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$32.13 PKR 8,918

2139.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$1,002 PKR 278.0K

226.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$520 PKR 144.3K

177.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$146 PKR 40.4K

328.53%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Okara: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $28.58 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 329% 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 Okara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 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

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 237%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $447 in Okara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $11.00 in Okara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $298 in Okara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Okara, where all-in costs run around $298, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Okara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.