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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,187 per month in Caracas vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,010 per month in Caracas vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Caracas vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Caracas costs about 15% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Caracas and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Caracas 11% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.20 VES 8,967

$6.16 COP 20.1K

98.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.2 VES 39.8K

$32.60 COP 106.1K

66.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 VES 7,445

$7.34 COP 23.9K

38.01%

Cappuccino

$2.52 VES 1,854

$1.72 COP 5,600

46.51%

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

$1.32 VES 969

$1.05 COP 3,420

25.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 VES 701

$0.77 COP 2,515

23.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 VES 1,122

$1.69 COP 5,488

-9.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 VES 2,143

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-7.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 VES 1,368

$1.05 COP 3,423

77.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 VES 2,028

$1.30 COP 4,236

112.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 VES 1,043

$1.40 COP 4,544

1.43%

Eggs

$2.84 VES 2,091

$2.16 COP 7,047

31.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.98 VES 7,339

$4.39 COP 14.3K

127.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.31 VES 5,375

$5.88 COP 19.1K

24.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.40 VES 5,439

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-14.35%

Apples (1kg)

$5.33 VES 3,919

$2.28 COP 7,426

133.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 VES 1,354

$1.11 COP 3,604

65.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 VES 1,673

$1.53 COP 4,983

49.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 VES 1,460

$1.35 COP 4,410

47.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 VES 1,988

$1.13 COP 3,674

138.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 VES 1,515

$1.13 COP 3,692

82.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 VES 985

$0.85 COP 2,753

57.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 VES 1,446

$0.91 COP 2,975

116.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.96 VES 2,907

$2.34 COP 7,630

69.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.20 VES 8,966

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-1.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 VES 1,114

$1.20 COP 3,909

26.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 VES 1,453

$2.49 COP 8,104

-20.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 VES 578

$0.84 COP 2,728

-5.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.41 VES 22.4K

$40.57 COP 132.1K

-25.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.87 VES 3,577

$1.42 COP 4,623

242.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.71 VES 1,995

$1.92 COP 6,235

41.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.95 VES 7,317

$7.66 COP 24.9K

29.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 VES 376

$0.99 COP 3,223

-48.48%

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

$24.7K VES 18.2M

$18.0K COP 58.7M

37.24%

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

$40.0K VES 29.4M

$26.6K COP 86.7M

50.05%

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

$19.82 VES 14.6K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-75.47%

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

$13.26 VES 9,745

$9.95 COP 32.4K

33.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.50 VES 29.0K

$24.18 COP 78.7K

63.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.9 VES 49.9K

$25.08 COP 81.7K

170.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.57 VES 11.4K

$19.15 COP 62.3K

-18.69%

Cinema Ticket

$6.09 VES 4,475

$3.98 COP 13.0K

53.02%

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

$130 VES 95.4K

$305 COP 993.5K

-57.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,392 VES 4.0M

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-11.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 VES 46.7K

$58.1 COP 189.2K

9.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.35 VES 28.9K

$32.20 COP 104.8K

22.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 VES 76.5K

$101 COP 327.9K

3.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 VES 83.1K

$108 COP 350.8K

4.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 VES 333.2K

$477 COP 1.6M

-4.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 VES 269.9K

$376 COP 1.2M

-2.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$983 VES 722.3K

$845 COP 2.7M

16.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$840 VES 617.8K

$730 COP 2.4M

15.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,480 VES 1.1M

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-53.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$666 VES 489.5K

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-51.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$307 VES 225.4K

$617 COP 2.0M

-50.29%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $453 in Caracas versus $477 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 101% 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 $54.0 in Caracas versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $193 – 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 15%, 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 $1,780 per month in Caracas and $1,546 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 33% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $130 per month in Caracas and $305 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 $1,031, than in Caracas at $1,187. 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.