😐A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $374 in Sahiwal, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $564 in Sahiwal, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $753 in Sahiwal, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 177% more than Sahiwal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Medellin and Sahiwal are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Sahiwal72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$1.74PKR 484
240.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$10.63PKR 2,962
208.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$4.15PKR 1,158
73.49%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.55PKR 710
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.64PKR 1,016
-
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$1.75PKR 487
-2.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$0.33PKR 91.2
233.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$0.17PKR 46.89
323.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$0.64PKR 179
65.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$0.44PKR 123
184.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$1.17PKR 327
18.80%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$1.17PKR 326
93.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$5.89PKR 1,643
-26.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$2.92PKR 814
100.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$4.43PKR 1,235
99.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$1.05PKR 293
113.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$0.60PKR 169
80.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$0.33PKR 93.2
363.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$0.46PKR 128
197.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$0.36PKR 99.2
213.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$0.48PKR 133
133.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$0.45PKR 124
88.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$0.37PKR 102
145.95%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$0.70PKR 196
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.51PKR 141
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.06PKR 297
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$1.99PKR 554
17.09%
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
Sahiwal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$0.16PKR 43.22
393.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
$6.97PKR 1,944
490.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$0.73PKR 203
97.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$0.50PKR 139
282.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$1.80PKR 502
345.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$0.89PKR 249
5.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$17.9KPKR 5.0M
-0.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$23.0KPKR 6.4M
16.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$70.0PKR 19.5K
20.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$5.48PKR 1,528
75.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$17.48PKR 4,872
38.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$12.16PKR 3,389
112.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
$5.85PKR 1,631
225.47%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$3.58PKR 998
9.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$17.83PKR 4,970
1618.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$1,243PKR 346.6K
375.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$14.12PKR 3,936
310.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$12.28PKR 3,424
159.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$74.0PKR 20.6K
35.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$28.15PKR 7,848
280.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$73.9PKR 20.6K
558.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$51.5PKR 14.3K
615.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$168PKR 46.8K
391.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$106PKR 29.4K
578.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
$743PKR 207.1K
293.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
$560PKR 156.2K
151.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sahiwal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Sahiwal: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $73.9 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: $190 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 177%, 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 $561 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 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 vs Sahiwal?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $374 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 Medellin or Sahiwal?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sahiwal, where all-in costs run around $374, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.