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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $346 per month in Quetta vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $537 per month in Quetta vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $728 per month in Quetta vs $2,143 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 – Quetta 74% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.52 PKR 977
$5.91 COP 18.6K
-40.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.63 PKR 2,950
$32.96 COP 103.9K
-67.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.38 PKR 1,216
$7.43 COP 23.4K
-41.05%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 PKR 478
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 PKR 431
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.70 PKR 471
$1.65 COP 5,212
3.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 PKR 117
$1.10 COP 3,472
-61.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 PKR 55.4
$0.78 COP 2,461
-74.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.72 COP 5,417
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.18 COP 10.0K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.74 PKR 206
$1.10 COP 3,478
-32.73%
White Bread (500g)
$0.46 PKR 128
$1.26 COP 3,966
-63.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.03 PKR 285
$1.38 COP 4,354
-25.36%
Eggs
$1.12 PKR 310
$2.18 COP 6,866
-48.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.92 PKR 1,644
$4.49 COP 14.2K
31.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.58 PKR 716
$5.79 COP 18.3K
-55.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.12 PKR 1,143
$8.97 COP 28.3K
-54.07%
Apples (1kg)
$1.04 PKR 289
$2.32 COP 7,315
-55.17%
Banana (1kg)
$0.55 PKR 154
$1.06 COP 3,356
-48.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.57 PKR 157
$1.52 COP 4,779
-62.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.48 PKR 133
$1.36 COP 4,274
-64.71%
Potato (1kg)
$0.31 PKR 87.2
$1.13 COP 3,555
-72.57%
Onion (1kg)
$0.48 PKR 132
$1.17 COP 3,692
-58.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 PKR 98.5
$0.90 COP 2,841
-61.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32 PKR 90.1
$0.90 COP 2,826
-64.44%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.45 PKR 402
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.34 PKR 93.1
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 PKR 581
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$0.69 PKR 192
$2.23 COP 7,041
-69.06%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$12.12 COP 38.2K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.19 COP 3,747
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.48 COP 7,823
-
🚌 Getting Around
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 PKR 43.93
$0.85 COP 2,690
-81.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.23 PKR 1,453
$41.62 COP 131.2K
-87.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.36 PKR 101
$1.42 COP 4,463
-74.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.62 PKR 171
$1.95 COP 6,147
-68.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.73 PKR 481
$7.89 COP 24.9K
-78.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 PKR 268
$0.99 COP 3,122
-2.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K PKR 6.0M
$17.6K COP 55.5M
22.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$12.1K PKR 3.4M
$26.8K COP 84.5M
-54.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.6 PKR 14.6K
$83.0 COP 261.6K
-36.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.41 PKR 1,778
$9.70 COP 30.6K
-33.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.32 PKR 3,975
$23.52 COP 74.1K
-39.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$4.96 PKR 1,378
$25.26 COP 79.6K
-80.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.76 PKR 1,600
$19.10 COP 60.2K
-69.84%
Cinema Ticket
$2.90 PKR 805
$3.95 COP 12.4K
-26.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$34.09 PKR 9,461
$316 COP 995.3K
-89.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$417 PKR 115.7K
$5,975 COP 18.8M
-93.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$6.98 PKR 1,937
$60.0 COP 189.1K
-88.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$7.24 PKR 2,010
$31.82 COP 100.3K
-77.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.1 PKR 24.2K
$102 COP 320.4K
-14.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.59 PKR 8,213
$107 COP 338.7K
-72.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$69.8 PKR 19.4K
$475 COP 1.5M
-85.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$49.30 PKR 13.7K
$374 COP 1.2M
-86.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$159 PKR 44.1K
$849 COP 2.7M
-81.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$96.5 PKR 26.8K
$719 COP 2.3M
-86.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$376 PKR 104.2K
$3,265 COP 10.3M
-88.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$214 PKR 59.3K
$1,441 COP 4.5M
-85.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$271 PKR 75.3K
$624 COP 2.0M
-56.58%
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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $69.8 in Quetta versus $475 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 130% 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 $193 – 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 190%, 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 $519 per month in Quetta and $1,504 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 in 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 and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $346 in Quetta and $1,003 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 living in Quetta or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Quetta, where all-in costs run around $346, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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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