😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $509 in Sheikhupura, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $795 in Sheikhupura, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,081 in Sheikhupura, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 230% more than Sheikhupura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Sheikhupura is 63% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sheikhupura
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.4K
$3.66PKR 1,013
119.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 152.0K
$23.26PKR 6,443
105.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.4K
$5.51PKR 1,526
79.49%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.51PKR 971
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.76PKR 1,873
-
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,937
$2.53PKR 701
23.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,058
$0.33PKR 90.3
478.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,794
$0.21PKR 57.9
619.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,917
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.3K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sheikhupura
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,587
$0.95PKR 262
51.58%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,894
$0.80PKR 222
211.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,631
$1.25PKR 348
41.60%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,396
$1.27PKR 351
133.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 32.0K
$6.03PKR 1,670
67.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 32.1K
$3.19PKR 884
217.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.4K
$5.23PKR 1,448
173.42%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.1K
$1.27PKR 351
225.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,106
$0.86PKR 238
87.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,129
$1.08PKR 299
108.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,150
$0.53PKR 147
324.53%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,486
$0.26PKR 71.9
684.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,873
$0.33PKR 90.3
366.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,715
$0.28PKR 76.6
317.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,148
$0.43PKR 118
204.65%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.79PKR 496
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.23PKR 342
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.59PKR 718
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.4K
$2.40PKR 664
62.50%
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
Sheikhupura
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,858
$0.21PKR 57.0
480.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 255.5K
$8.81PKR 2,441
813.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,155
$1.24PKR 343
5.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,944
$0.69PKR 190
217.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.7K
$1.65PKR 456
427.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,334
$1.30PKR 360
5.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
$21.9KPKR 6.1M
26.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
$24.4KPKR 6.7M
46.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sheikhupura
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 562.9K
$104PKR 28.7K
71.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 44.1K
$5.78PKR 1,602
140.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 94.4K
$15.94PKR 4,415
86.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sheikhupura
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 142.5K
$14.98PKR 4,148
199.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.1K
$4.44PKR 1,229
49.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sheikhupura
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$75.8PKR 21.0K
972.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.2M
$997PKR 276.1K
821.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sheikhupura
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 284.1K
$24.52PKR 6,791
264.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 187.2K
$35.37PKR 9,797
66.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 438.8K
$97.1PKR 26.9K
42.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 324.2K
$40.46PKR 11.2K
152.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sheikhupura
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.4M
$145PKR 40.1K
634.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$79.9PKR 22.1K
729.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$258PKR 71.5K
631.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.3M
$142PKR 39.3K
624.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.3M
$968PKR 268.1K
332.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$516PKR 143.1K
224.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sheikhupura
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.2M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
13.08
-16.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Sheikhupura: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $145 in Sheikhupura. 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 $23.00 in Sheikhupura. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $103 – making Sheikhupura 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 Sheikhupura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sheikhupura 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $763 in Sheikhupura. 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 Sheikhupura, 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 Sheikhupura?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $23.00 in Sheikhupura. 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 Sheikhupura?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $509 in Sheikhupura. 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 Sheikhupura?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sheikhupura, where all-in costs run around $509, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Sheikhupura it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Sheikhupura more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sheikhupura – 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 Sheikhupura. 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.