Cost of Living Comparison Between Caracas and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Caracas and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,203 per month in Caracas vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,989 per month in Caracas vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,775 per month in Caracas vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Caracas costs about 19% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Caracas and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Caracas 10% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 VES 6,700

$5.99 COP 21.4K

100.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.1 VES 30.8K

$32.86 COP 117.2K

67.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 VES 5,663

$7.09 COP 25.3K

42.88%

Cappuccino

$2.61 VES 1,461

$1.71 COP 6,105

52.63%

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

$1.25 VES 701

$1.10 COP 3,918

13.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 VES 546

$0.78 COP 2,776

25.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 VES 858

$1.68 COP 5,987

-8.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 VES 1,713

$3.07 COP 10.9K

-0.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 VES 1,053

$1.09 COP 3,899

72.48%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 VES 1,505

$1.26 COP 4,500

113.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.43 VES 798

$1.38 COP 4,914

3.62%

Eggs

$2.84 VES 1,590

$2.19 COP 7,813

29.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 VES 5,414

$4.40 COP 15.7K

120.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.66 VES 4,281

$5.63 COP 20.1K

36.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.70 VES 4,304

$8.89 COP 31.7K

-13.39%

Apples (1kg)

$5.24 VES 2,928

$2.34 COP 8,334

123.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 VES 1,012

$1.06 COP 3,771

70.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 VES 1,233

$1.50 COP 5,365

47.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.05 VES 1,144

$1.38 COP 4,915

48.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.69 VES 1,501

$1.15 COP 4,104

133.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.05 VES 1,145

$1.16 COP 4,148

76.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 VES 749

$0.89 COP 3,176

50.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 VES 1,047

$0.84 COP 2,992

122.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 VES 2,281

$2.28 COP 8,131

78.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.83 VES 6,051

$10.64 COP 37.9K

1.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 VES 839

$1.20 COP 4,276

25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 VES 1,140

$2.47 COP 8,809

-17.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 VES 427

$0.86 COP 3,051

-11.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.45 VES 17.0K

$41.40 COP 147.6K

-26.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.03 VES 2,810

$1.47 COP 5,255

242.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.66 VES 1,490

$1.96 COP 6,997

35.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.91 VES 5,537

$7.74 COP 27.6K

28.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 VES 269

$0.95 COP 3,403

-49.47%

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

$25.2K VES 14.1M

$18.1K COP 64.6M

39.11%

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

$39.5K VES 22.1M

$26.5K COP 94.4M

49.29%

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

$20.26 VES 11.3K

$82.3 COP 293.2K

-75.37%

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

$13.05 VES 7,293

$9.50 COP 33.9K

37.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.78 VES 22.2K

$24.23 COP 86.4K

64.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.0 VES 38.5K

$25.89 COP 92.3K

166.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.16 VES 8,472

$19.00 COP 67.7K

-20.21%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 VES 3,310

$3.93 COP 14.0K

50.64%

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

$131 VES 73.3K

$309 COP 1.1M

-57.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,363 VES 3.0M

$5,965 COP 21.3M

-10.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 VES 35.8K

$58.7 COP 209.1K

9.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.66 VES 22.2K

$32.35 COP 115.3K

22.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 VES 58.0K

$103 COP 365.7K

1.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 VES 64.3K

$108 COP 386.5K

6.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$451 VES 251.9K

$476 COP 1.7M

-5.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$372 VES 208.0K

$379 COP 1.4M

-1.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$979 VES 547.0K

$838 COP 3.0M

16.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$845 VES 472.3K

$724 COP 2.6M

16.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,450 VES 810.4K

$2,791 COP 9.9M

-48.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$687 VES 383.9K

$1,211 COP 4.3M

-43.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$289 VES 161.5K

$512 COP 1.8M

-43.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.33

13.43

58.82%

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

Last update for Caracas: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $451 in Caracas versus $476 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 77% higher in Medellin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Caracas versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $283 vs $188 – making Medellin 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

Caracas vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Caracas is pricier by about 19%, 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 $1,804 per month in Caracas and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 36% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $131 per month in Caracas and $309 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Caracas at $1,203. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Caracas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Caracas makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.