🙂A single person spends $352 per month in Quetta vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $550 per month in Quetta vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $748 per month in Quetta vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Quetta is about 65% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Quetta and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Quetta74% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45PKR 960
$5.95COP 20.8K
-42.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.69PKR 2,972
$33.33COP 116.3K
-67.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.40PKR 1,223
$7.23COP 25.2K
-39.14%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.80PKR 500
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57PKR 435
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.62PKR 449
$1.63COP 5,687
-0.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42PKR 118
$1.09COP 3,821
-61.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22PKR 61.2
$0.73COP 2,548
-69.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.74COP 6,065
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.23COP 11.3K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.74PKR 207
$1.05COP 3,662
-29.52%
White Bread(500g)
$0.46PKR 129
$1.29COP 4,515
-64.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.07PKR 298
$1.32COP 4,617
-18.94%
Eggs
$1.08PKR 299
$2.27COP 7,927
-52.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.94PKR 1,652
$4.35COP 15.2K
36.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.49PKR 691
$5.88COP 20.5K
-57.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.24PKR 1,178
$8.61COP 30.0K
-50.75%
Apples(1kg)
$1.07PKR 298
$2.25COP 7,844
-52.44%
Banana(1kg)
$0.56PKR 155
$1.07COP 3,733
-47.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.57PKR 158
$1.52COP 5,322
-62.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.52PKR 145
$1.42COP 4,964
-63.38%
Potato(1kg)
$0.29PKR 80.6
$1.17COP 4,084
-75.21%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50PKR 139
$1.17COP 4,077
-57.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.35PKR 98.2
$0.89COP 3,096
-60.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30PKR 83.3
$0.90COP 3,146
-66.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.42PKR 395
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 101
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15PKR 598
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.72PKR 201
$2.25COP 7,837
-68.00%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$11.04COP 38.5K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.14COP 3,977
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.38COP 8,301
-
🚌 Getting Around
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKR 49.40
$0.84COP 2,916
-78.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.36PKR 1,491
$41.95COP 146.4K
-87.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.33PKR 92.5
$1.41COP 4,912
-76.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65PKR 180
$1.90COP 6,634
-65.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.72PKR 479
$7.75COP 27.0K
-77.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.96PKR 266
$1.01COP 3,509
-4.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6KPKR 6.0M
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
22.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$12.3KPKR 3.4M
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-53.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$52.6PKR 14.6K
$83.7COP 292.1K
-37.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.38PKR 1,774
$9.45COP 33.0K
-32.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.98PKR 3,887
$24.11COP 84.1K
-42.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$5.09PKR 1,415
$25.31COP 88.3K
-79.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.81PKR 1,614
$19.14COP 66.8K
-69.64%
Cinema Ticket
$2.89PKR 804
$4.10COP 14.3K
-29.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$35.09PKR 9,756
$312COP 1.1M
-88.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$424PKR 117.8K
$5,993COP 20.9M
-92.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$7.22PKR 2,006
$58.0COP 202.6K
-87.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$6.98PKR 1,941
$32.56COP 113.6K
-78.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.7PKR 24.9K
$99.6COP 347.7K
-9.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.19PKR 8,116
$109COP 378.8K
-73.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$69.9PKR 19.4K
$482COP 1.7M
-85.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$50.4PKR 14.0K
$379COP 1.3M
-86.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$157PKR 43.7K
$837COP 2.9M
-81.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$95.5PKR 26.6K
$723COP 2.5M
-86.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$381PKR 106.0K
$2,840COP 9.9M
-86.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$220PKR 61.3K
$1,223COP 4.3M
-81.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$213PKR 59.3K
$541COP 1.9M
-60.60%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $69.9 in Quetta versus $482 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 154% 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 $11.00 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 189%, 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 $527 per month in Quetta and $1,525 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 $11.00 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 $352 in Quetta and $1,017 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 $352, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.