Cost of Living Comparison Between Swabi and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Swabi and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $376 per month in Swabi vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $606 per month in Swabi vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $837 per month in Swabi vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Swabi is about 78% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Swabi sits 73% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.69 PKR 1,024

$8.03 COP 25.1K

-54.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.59 PKR 6,264

$48.26 COP 150.8K

-53.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.83 PKR 786

$9.77 COP 30.5K

-71.03%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.64 PKR 1,009

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 PKR 492

Cappuccino

$0.57 PKR 157

$2.91 COP 9,095

-80.41%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 PKR 77.5

$1.94 COP 6,074

-85.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 PKR 36.56

$1.52 COP 4,754

-91.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 COP 9,663

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 COP 17.9K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.67 PKR 186

$1.36 COP 4,262

-50.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.33 PKR 92.3

$2.39 COP 7,460

-86.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.70 COP 5,314

-46.47%

Eggs

$1.10 PKR 305

$2.87 COP 8,967

-61.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.80 PKR 1,609

$9.94 COP 31.1K

-41.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.41 PKR 668

$10.78 COP 33.7K

-77.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.83 PKR 783

$14.73 COP 46.0K

-80.79%

Apples (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 154

$4.09 COP 12.8K

-86.55%

Banana (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.5

$1.57 COP 4,911

-78.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$2.13 COP 6,642

-75.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 84.1

$2.21 COP 6,917

-86.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.16 PKR 43.65

$2.05 COP 6,396

-92.20%

Onion (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 98.8

$1.50 COP 4,700

-76.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 PKR 74.2

$1.19 COP 3,718

-77.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 PKR 84.4

$1.16 COP 3,619

-74.14%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.75 PKR 485

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 PKR 195

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 PKR 656

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.27 PKR 630

$3.90 COP 12.2K

-41.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.44 COP 45.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 COP 4,948

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 COP 8,836

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.93

$1.17 COP 3,650

-85.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.77 PKR 2,985

$77.7 COP 242.9K

-86.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.71 PKR 196

$1.28 COP 4,014

-44.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.20 PKR 55.9

$2.09 COP 6,537

-90.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 PKR 441

$8.62 COP 26.9K

-81.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 272

$1.30 COP 4,056

-24.62%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$10.9K PKR 3.0M

$27.7K COP 86.4M

-60.47%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$12.7K PKR 3.5M

$35.5K COP 110.9M

-64.13%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$54.5 PKR 15.1K

$176 COP 550.1K

-69.05%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.57 PKR 989

$13.37 COP 41.8K

-73.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.23 PKR 4,501

$29.89 COP 93.4K

-45.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.76 PKR 4,091

$44.76 COP 139.8K

-67.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.3K

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 PKR 1,378

$6.20 COP 19.4K

-19.84%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$17.75 PKR 4,922

$793 COP 2.5M

-97.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,011 PKR 280.2K

$9,019 COP 28.2M

-88.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$3.72 PKR 1,030

$85.6 COP 267.5K

-95.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.47 PKR 9,003

$58.5 COP 182.7K

-44.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.5 PKR 23.1K

$136 COP 425.9K

-38.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.20 PKR 11.1K

$103 COP 322.2K

-61.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$128 PKR 35.4K

$1,060 COP 3.3M

-87.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.8 PKR 21.0K

$680 COP 2.1M

-88.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$248 PKR 68.7K

$2,012 COP 6.3M

-87.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$147 PKR 40.6K

$1,169 COP 3.7M

-87.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$983 PKR 272.5K

$4,111 COP 12.8M

-76.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$580 PKR 160.8K

$1,701 COP 5.3M

-65.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$160 PKR 44.3K

$665 COP 2.1M

-76.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

10.94

19.56%

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

Last update for Swabi: August 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $128 in Swabi versus $1,060 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 317% 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 $23.00 in Swabi versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $70.0 vs $303 – making Swabi 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

Swabi vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 356%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $564 per month in Swabi and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Swabi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Swabi and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $376 in Swabi and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Swabi, where all-in costs run around $376, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Swabi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Swabi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Swabi. 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.