Cost of Living Comparison Between Quetta and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Quetta and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $348 per month in Quetta vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $548 per month in Quetta vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $747 per month in Quetta vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Quetta is about 66% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Quetta and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Quetta 74% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 PKR 963
$5.92 COP 21.5K
-41.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.48 PKR 2,926
$32.75 COP 119.1K
-68.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.53 PKR 1,265
$7.20 COP 26.2K
-37.08%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.81 PKR 504
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 PKR 434
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.66 PKR 464
$1.70 COP 6,186
-2.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 PKR 128
$1.10 COP 3,996
-58.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 PKR 55.8
$0.72 COP 2,625
-72.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.67 COP 6,067
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.10 COP 11.3K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.68 PKR 191
$1.06 COP 3,837
-35.85%
White Bread (500g)
$0.44 PKR 122
$1.25 COP 4,531
-64.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.03 PKR 289
$1.39 COP 5,060
-25.90%
Eggs
$1.13 PKR 315
$2.26 COP 8,229
-50.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.18 PKR 1,726
$4.33 COP 15.8K
42.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.59 PKR 722
$5.84 COP 21.2K
-55.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.21 PKR 1,176
$8.83 COP 32.1K
-52.32%
Apples (1kg)
$1.03 PKR 287
$2.24 COP 8,159
-54.02%
Banana (1kg)
$0.52 PKR 146
$1.08 COP 3,911
-51.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.56 PKR 157
$1.53 COP 5,563
-63.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.51 PKR 144
$1.37 COP 4,987
-62.77%
Potato (1kg)
$0.31 PKR 87.1
$1.13 COP 4,109
-72.57%
Onion (1kg)
$0.50 PKR 140
$1.12 COP 4,067
-55.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 PKR 98.3
$0.85 COP 3,080
-58.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32 PKR 90.5
$0.91 COP 3,305
-64.84%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.45 PKR 404
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.34 PKR 94.2
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 PKR 586
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$0.69 PKR 193
$2.33 COP 8,477
-70.39%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$11.13 COP 40.5K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.19 COP 4,342
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.37 COP 8,617
-
🚌 Getting Around
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 PKR 50.4
$0.79 COP 2,859
-77.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.42 PKR 1,514
$41.13 COP 149.6K
-86.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.37 PKR 102
$1.44 COP 5,223
-74.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.65 PKR 183
$1.91 COP 6,952
-65.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.82 PKR 507
$8.02 COP 29.2K
-77.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 PKR 268
$0.94 COP 3,410
2.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K PKR 5.9M
$17.9K COP 65.2M
17.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$12.4K PKR 3.5M
$26.8K COP 97.4M
-53.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.8 PKR 15.0K
$84.0 COP 305.4K
-35.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.39 PKR 1,784
$9.60 COP 34.9K
-33.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.35 PKR 4,006
$24.16 COP 87.9K
-40.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$4.99 PKR 1,392
$25.88 COP 94.1K
-80.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.00 PKR 1,675
$19.04 COP 69.3K
-68.49%
Cinema Ticket
$2.80 PKR 781
$3.92 COP 14.2K
-28.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$34.87 PKR 9,734
$306 COP 1.1M
-88.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$426 PKR 118.8K
$5,919 COP 21.5M
-92.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$7.22 PKR 2,016
$57.9 COP 210.6K
-87.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$7.20 PKR 2,010
$31.82 COP 115.7K
-77.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.5 PKR 24.4K
$99.9 COP 363.3K
-12.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.40 PKR 8,206
$107 COP 389.7K
-72.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$71.0 PKR 19.8K
$487 COP 1.8M
-85.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$48.89 PKR 13.6K
$368 COP 1.3M
-86.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$160 PKR 44.5K
$826 COP 3.0M
-80.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$98.4 PKR 27.5K
$716 COP 2.6M
-86.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$384 PKR 107.1K
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-86.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$221 PKR 61.7K
$1,407 COP 5.1M
-84.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$216 PKR 60.3K
$546 COP 2.0M
-60.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12
13.43
-10.65%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Quetta: April 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $71.0 in Quetta versus $487 in Medellin. 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 153% 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 $10.00 in Quetta versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $84.0 vs $190 – making Quetta 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
Quetta vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Quetta?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 197%, 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 $522 per month in Quetta and $1,550 in Medellin. 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 Quetta, 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 Quetta or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $10.00 in Quetta and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Quetta vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $348 in Quetta and $1,034 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Quetta or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Quetta, where all-in costs run around $348, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Quetta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Quetta or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Quetta – 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 Quetta. 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.

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