😐A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $370 in Sahiwal, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $565 in Sahiwal, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $761 in Sahiwal, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 171% more than Sahiwal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Medellin and Sahiwal are more affordable than the global median – Medellin25% lower, Sahiwal72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.9K
$1.73PKR 481
241.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 105.2K
$10.78PKR 2,991
205.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.7K
$4.20PKR 1,164
76.90%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.41PKR 669
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.69PKR 1,024
-
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,276
$1.73PKR 481
-4.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,514
$0.35PKR 97.8
214.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,491
$0.19PKR 52.2
310.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,484
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.1K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,521
$0.61PKR 168
80.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 4,015
$0.43PKR 120
193.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,407
$1.13PKR 315
22.12%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,950
$1.15PKR 320
89.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.3K
$5.89PKR 1,635
-23.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.5K
$2.90PKR 806
99.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.6K
$4.63PKR 1,286
93.74%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,405
$1.02PKR 282
127.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,397
$0.61PKR 169
73.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,838
$0.36PKR 100
322.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,327
$0.46PKR 128
195.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,599
$0.33PKR 90.9
242.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,738
$0.51PKR 142
129.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,876
$0.47PKR 131
91.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,861
$0.34PKR 94.0
164.71%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.11PKR 308
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.54PKR 150
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.12PKR 311
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,128
$1.90PKR 526
17.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.7K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,793
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,920
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,723
$0.19PKR 53.9
347.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 132.8K
$7.00PKR 1,943
494.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,518
$0.74PKR 207
91.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,223
$0.52PKR 144
275.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 25.2K
$1.81PKR 502
335.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,160
$0.94PKR 262
5.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
$17.7KPKR 4.9M
-0.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
$23.2KPKR 6.4M
15.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 264.9K
$71.4PKR 19.8K
16.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.9K
$5.34PKR 1,482
81.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 75.0K
$17.57PKR 4,876
33.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 80.6K
$12.55PKR 3,484
101.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.9K
$5.91PKR 1,640
223.18%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.6K
$3.62PKR 1,005
9.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 1.0M
$17.38PKR 4,824
1716.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 19.1M
$1,216PKR 337.4K
391.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 191.4K
$14.30PKR 3,968
319.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 101.5K
$12.31PKR 3,417
158.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 324.4K
$72.7PKR 20.2K
39.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 342.8K
$28.09PKR 7,795
282.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$74.3PKR 20.6K
539.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$50.9PKR 14.1K
635.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$167PKR 46.2K
409.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$108PKR 30.0K
565.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.4M
$874PKR 242.6K
273.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.6M
$531PKR 147.3K
171.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
-
-
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 Sahiwal: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $74.3 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $11.00 in Sahiwal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $86.0 – 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 171%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $555 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 $33.00 in Medellin and $11.00 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 $1,003 in Medellin and $370 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 $370, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.