😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $450 in Pakpattan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $625 in Pakpattan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $800 in Pakpattan, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 274% more than Pakpattan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Pakpattan is 67% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Pakpattan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.4K
$1.24PKR 344
546.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 152.0K
$10.86PKR 3,007
340.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.4K
$5.38PKR 1,490
83.83%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.63PKR 729
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.18PKR 1,434
-
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,937
$1.80PKR 498
73.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,058
$0.20PKR 54.6
855.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,794
$0.10PKR 28.52
1410.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,917
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.3K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Pakpattan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,587
$0.63PKR 174
128.57%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,894
$0.51PKR 140
388.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,631
$0.92PKR 254
92.39%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,396
$1.11PKR 306
166.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 32.0K
$7.28PKR 2,015
38.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 32.1K
$2.38PKR 658
325.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.4K
$3.63PKR 1,006
293.94%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.1K
$0.89PKR 247
365.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,106
$0.49PKR 136
228.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,129
$0.28PKR 76.6
703.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,150
$0.55PKR 153
309.09%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,486
$0.39PKR 108
423.08%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,873
$0.43PKR 120
258.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,715
$0.50PKR 138
134.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,148
$0.34PKR 95.4
285.29%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.81PKR 500
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.96PKR 265
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.95PKR 818
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.4K
$2.14PKR 593
82.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.5K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,534
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,112
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Pakpattan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,858
$0.19PKR 51.4
542.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 255.5K
$11.32PKR 3,135
610.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,155
$1.41PKR 391
-7.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,944
$0.38PKR 104
476.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.7K
$0.89PKR 246
878.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,334
$1.03PKR 284
33.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
$25.2KPKR 7.0M
10.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
$26.7KPKR 7.4M
34.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Pakpattan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 562.9K
$146PKR 40.5K
21.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 44.1K
$4.84PKR 1,340
186.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 94.4K
$19.03PKR 5,271
56.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Pakpattan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 142.5K
$15.25PKR 4,225
194.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.1K
$4.42PKR 1,225
50.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Pakpattan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$12.57PKR 3,481
6367.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.2M
$1,028PKR 284.7K
793.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Pakpattan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 284.1K
$10.90PKR 3,020
721.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 187.2K
$12.47PKR 3,453
372.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 438.8K
$25.04PKR 6,936
451.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 324.2K
$14.39PKR 3,986
609.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Pakpattan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.4M
$112PKR 31.0K
850.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$78.2PKR 21.7K
747.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$254PKR 70.4K
642.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.3M
$150PKR 41.6K
584.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.3M
$857PKR 237.4K
388.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$471PKR 130.5K
255.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Pakpattan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.2M
$109PKR 30.1K
523.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
13
-15.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Pakpattan: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $112 in Pakpattan. 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 523% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $11.00 in Pakpattan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $83.0 – making Pakpattan 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 Pakpattan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pakpattan cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 274%, 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $675 in Pakpattan. 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 Pakpattan, 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 Pakpattan?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $11.00 in Pakpattan. 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 Pakpattan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $450 in Pakpattan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Pakpattan?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Pakpattan, where all-in costs run around $450, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Pakpattan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Pakpattan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Pakpattan – 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 Pakpattan. 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.