🙂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 – Quetta74% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.52PKR 977
$5.91COP 18.6K
-40.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.63PKR 2,950
$32.96COP 103.9K
-67.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.38PKR 1,216
$7.43COP 23.4K
-41.05%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72PKR 478
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55PKR 431
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.70PKR 471
$1.65COP 5,212
3.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42PKR 117
$1.10COP 3,472
-61.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20PKR 55.4
$0.78COP 2,461
-74.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.72COP 5,417
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.18COP 10.0K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.74PKR 206
$1.10COP 3,478
-32.73%
White Bread(500g)
$0.46PKR 128
$1.26COP 3,966
-63.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.03PKR 285
$1.38COP 4,354
-25.36%
Eggs
$1.12PKR 310
$2.18COP 6,866
-48.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.92PKR 1,644
$4.49COP 14.2K
31.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.58PKR 716
$5.79COP 18.3K
-55.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.12PKR 1,143
$8.97COP 28.3K
-54.07%
Apples(1kg)
$1.04PKR 289
$2.32COP 7,315
-55.17%
Banana(1kg)
$0.55PKR 154
$1.06COP 3,356
-48.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.57PKR 157
$1.52COP 4,779
-62.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.48PKR 133
$1.36COP 4,274
-64.71%
Potato(1kg)
$0.31PKR 87.2
$1.13COP 3,555
-72.57%
Onion(1kg)
$0.48PKR 132
$1.17COP 3,692
-58.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.35PKR 98.5
$0.90COP 2,841
-61.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32PKR 90.1
$0.90COP 2,826
-64.44%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.45PKR 402
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.34PKR 93.1
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09PKR 581
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.69PKR 192
$2.23COP 7,041
-69.06%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$12.12COP 38.2K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.19COP 3,747
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.48COP 7,823
-
🚌 Getting Around
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.16PKR 43.93
$0.85COP 2,690
-81.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.23PKR 1,453
$41.62COP 131.2K
-87.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.36PKR 101
$1.42COP 4,463
-74.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.62PKR 171
$1.95COP 6,147
-68.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.73PKR 481
$7.89COP 24.9K
-78.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97PKR 268
$0.99COP 3,122
-2.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5KPKR 6.0M
$17.6KCOP 55.5M
22.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$12.1KPKR 3.4M
$26.8KCOP 84.5M
-54.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$52.6PKR 14.6K
$83.0COP 261.6K
-36.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.41PKR 1,778
$9.70COP 30.6K
-33.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.32PKR 3,975
$23.52COP 74.1K
-39.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$4.96PKR 1,378
$25.26COP 79.6K
-80.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.76PKR 1,600
$19.10COP 60.2K
-69.84%
Cinema Ticket
$2.90PKR 805
$3.95COP 12.4K
-26.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$34.09PKR 9,461
$316COP 995.3K
-89.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$417PKR 115.7K
$5,975COP 18.8M
-93.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$6.98PKR 1,937
$60.0COP 189.1K
-88.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$7.24PKR 2,010
$31.82COP 100.3K
-77.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.1PKR 24.2K
$102COP 320.4K
-14.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.59PKR 8,213
$107COP 338.7K
-72.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$69.8PKR 19.4K
$475COP 1.5M
-85.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$49.30PKR 13.7K
$374COP 1.2M
-86.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$159PKR 44.1K
$849COP 2.7M
-81.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$96.5PKR 26.8K
$719COP 2.3M
-86.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$376PKR 104.2K
$3,265COP 10.3M
-88.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$214PKR 59.3K
$1,441COP 4.5M
-85.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quetta
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$271PKR 75.3K
$624COP 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.