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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $420 per month in Quetta vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $617 per month in Quetta vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $814 per month in Quetta vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Quetta is about 75% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Quetta sits 69% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.70 PKR 1,026
$8.02 COP 25.0K
-53.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.78 PKR 2,987
$47.87 COP 149.4K
-77.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.53 PKR 1,255
$9.89 COP 30.8K
-54.20%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.81 PKR 502
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.27 PKR 1,460
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.59 PKR 442
$3.13 COP 9,767
-49.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 PKR 107
$1.91 COP 5,954
-79.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 PKR 54.4
$1.51 COP 4,712
-86.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.12 COP 9,747
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.75 COP 17.9K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.69 PKR 192
$1.44 COP 4,509
-52.08%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 PKR 155
$2.49 COP 7,759
-77.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.23 PKR 341
$1.77 COP 5,535
-30.51%
Eggs
$1.22 PKR 337
$2.96 COP 9,235
-58.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.93 PKR 1,366
$10.07 COP 31.4K
-51.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.83 PKR 785
$10.12 COP 31.6K
-72.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.12 PKR 1,419
$14.30 COP 44.6K
-64.20%
Apples (1kg)
$0.93 PKR 258
$4.14 COP 12.9K
-77.54%
Banana (1kg)
$0.57 PKR 159
$1.61 COP 5,019
-64.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.69 PKR 190
$2.25 COP 7,007
-69.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.55 PKR 153
$2.25 COP 7,028
-75.56%
Potato (1kg)
$0.30 PKR 82.0
$2.04 COP 6,375
-85.29%
Onion (1kg)
$0.56 PKR 156
$1.54 COP 4,790
-63.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.43 PKR 118
$1.17 COP 3,651
-63.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39 PKR 108
$1.31 COP 4,077
-70.23%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.75 PKR 485
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 PKR 300
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 PKR 788
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.09 PKR 579
$3.90 COP 12.2K
-46.41%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$14.01 COP 43.7K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.74 COP 5,439
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.87 COP 8,956
-
🚌 Getting Around
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.13 PKR 36.35
$1.22 COP 3,792
-89.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.27 PKR 2,845
$80.5 COP 251.1K
-87.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.04 PKR 288
$1.31 COP 4,084
-20.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 PKR 120
$2.19 COP 6,825
-80.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.78 PKR 493
$8.71 COP 27.2K
-79.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 PKR 296
$1.37 COP 4,260
-21.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.0K PKR 6.7M
$27.8K COP 86.9M
-13.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K PKR 6.7M
$35.8K COP 111.6M
-32.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 PKR 28.5K
$177 COP 553.2K
-41.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.11 PKR 2,246
$13.88 COP 43.3K
-41.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.41 PKR 4,547
$29.72 COP 92.8K
-44.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$5.78 PKR 1,602
$44.88 COP 140.1K
-87.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12 COP 53.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.33 PKR 923
$6.65 COP 20.7K
-49.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$34.78 PKR 9,635
$813 COP 2.5M
-95.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$995 PKR 275.5K
$9,187 COP 28.7M
-89.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$8.08 PKR 2,237
$89.5 COP 279.3K
-90.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.81 PKR 6,318
$59.0 COP 184.0K
-61.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.8 PKR 19.6K
$138 COP 431.2K
-48.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$34.10 PKR 9,446
$102 COP 318.7K
-66.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$71.4 PKR 19.8K
$1,062 COP 3.3M
-93.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$49.66 PKR 13.8K
$663 COP 2.1M
-92.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$165 PKR 45.8K
$1,888 COP 5.9M
-91.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$99.5 PKR 27.6K
$1,027 COP 3.2M
-90.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$376 PKR 104.3K
$4,183 COP 13.1M
-91.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$219 PKR 60.6K
$1,675 COP 5.2M
-86.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$274 PKR 75.9K
$678 COP 2.1M
-59.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.88
10.94
17.73%

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

Last update for Quetta: September 15, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $71.4 in Quetta versus $1,062 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 147% 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 $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $89.0 vs $305 – 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 300%, 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 $630 per month in Quetta and $2,521 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 $48.00 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 $420 in Quetta and $1,681 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 $420, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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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