Cost of Living Comparison Between Isla de Margarita and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Isla de Margarita and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $663 per month in Isla de Margarita vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,232 per month in Isla de Margarita vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,801 per month in Isla de Margarita vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Isla de Margarita is about 36% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Isla de Margarita and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Isla de Margarita 51% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.96 VES 4,850

$5.92 COP 21.4K

68.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.1 VES 38.5K

$32.75 COP 118.2K

141.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

Cappuccino

$2.51 VES 1,224

$1.70 COP 6,140

47.65%

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

$1.02 VES 495

$1.10 COP 3,966

-7.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 VES 742

$0.72 COP 2,605

111.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 VES 477

$1.67 COP 6,022

-41.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 VES 1,504

$3.10 COP 11.2K

-0.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 VES 954

$1.06 COP 3,809

84.91%

White Bread (500g)

$2.95 VES 1,435

$1.25 COP 4,497

136.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 VES 957

$1.39 COP 5,022

41.01%

Eggs

$2.45 VES 1,195

$2.26 COP 8,168

8.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.24 VES 4,013

$4.33 COP 15.6K

90.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.78 VES 3,792

$5.84 COP 21.1K

33.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.90 VES 3,849

$8.83 COP 31.9K

-10.53%

Apples (1kg)

$3.88 VES 1,891

$2.24 COP 8,099

73.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 VES 742

$1.08 COP 3,882

40.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 VES 982

$1.53 COP 5,522

31.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.43 VES 1,181

$1.37 COP 4,950

77.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 VES 717

$1.13 COP 4,078

30.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.78 VES 866

$1.12 COP 4,036

58.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 VES 481

$0.85 COP 3,057

16.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

Wine (Bottle)

$4.88 VES 2,378

$11.13 COP 40.2K

-56.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 VES 477

$1.19 COP 4,309

-17.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 VES 742

$2.37 COP 8,553

-35.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 VES 1,423

$1.44 COP 5,184

102.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.02 VES 1,470

$1.91 COP 6,901

58.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

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

$29.45 VES 14.3K

$84.0 COP 303.1K

-64.92%

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

$14.74 VES 7,178

$9.60 COP 34.7K

53.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.33 VES 19.6K

$24.16 COP 87.2K

66.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.9 VES 24.8K

$25.88 COP 93.4K

96.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.73 VES 7,174

$19.04 COP 68.7K

-22.64%

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 VES 2,398

$3.92 COP 14.1K

25.51%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.9 VES 38.4K

$57.9 COP 209.1K

36.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 VES 49.2K

$99.9 COP 360.6K

1.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 VES 49.6K

$107 COP 386.8K

-5.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$298 VES 144.9K

$487 COP 1.8M

-38.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$498 VES 242.7K

$826 COP 3.0M

-39.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$589 VES 286.8K

$2,925 COP 10.6M

-79.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Isla de Margarita: April 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $298 in Isla de Margarita versus $487 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Isla de Margarita versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $190 – 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

Isla de Margarita vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 56%, 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 $994 per month in Isla de Margarita and $1,550 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 22% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Isla de Margarita and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Isla de Margarita, where all-in costs run around $663, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Isla de Margarita it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Isla de Margarita – 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 Isla de Margarita. 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.