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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Quetta 74% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

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

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