😐A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $497 in Sahiwal, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $722 in Sahiwal, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $947 in Sahiwal, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 230% more than Sahiwal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Sahiwal is 64% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$2.56PKR 709
214.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$14.38PKR 3,985
235.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$5.53PKR 1,531
70.34%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.54PKR 981
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.38PKR 1,492
-
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$2.57PKR 711
14.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$0.42PKR 118
342.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$0.26PKR 72.3
461.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$0.91PKR 251
58.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$0.66PKR 183
263.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$1.21PKR 336
40.50%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$1.23PKR 341
134.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$6.47PKR 1,794
55.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$2.45PKR 679
306.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$4.93PKR 1,365
188.03%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$1.21PKR 335
228.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$0.66PKR 184
139.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$0.83PKR 229
159.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
$0.64PKR 178
259.37%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$0.30PKR 83.5
566.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$0.32PKR 89.8
371.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$0.45PKR 126
166.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$0.34PKR 92.9
276.47%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.10PKR 305
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.61PKR 169
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.72PKR 477
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$2.10PKR 583
82.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
$0.17PKR 47.60
635.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
$9.75PKR 2,701
698.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$0.93PKR 257
40.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$0.70PKR 193
210.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$1.77PKR 491
368.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$1.33PKR 369
2.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$17.8KPKR 4.9M
54.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$26.0KPKR 7.2M
40.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$124PKR 34.4K
35.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$5.20PKR 1,441
160.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$16.26PKR 4,504
74.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
$15.02PKR 4,161
204.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$4.41PKR 1,221
50.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$44.39PKR 12.3K
1709.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$2,010PKR 556.9K
357.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$16.73PKR 4,634
422.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$24.95PKR 6,913
137.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$73.2PKR 20.3K
89.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$29.87PKR 8,274
241.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$127PKR 35.1K
745.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$77.4PKR 21.4K
743.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$252PKR 69.9K
662.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$151PKR 41.8K
595.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
$909PKR 251.9K
353.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
$511PKR 141.5K
232.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
14.22
-23.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Sahiwal: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $127 in Sahiwal. 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 $14.00 in Sahiwal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $96.0 – making Sahiwal 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 Sahiwal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sahiwal cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 230%, 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 $2,462 per month in Medellin and $745 in Sahiwal. 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 Sahiwal, 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 Sahiwal?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $14.00 in Sahiwal. 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 Sahiwal?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,641 in Medellin and $497 in Sahiwal. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Sahiwal?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sahiwal, where all-in costs run around $497, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Sahiwal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Sahiwal more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sahiwal – 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 Sahiwal. 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.