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 $648 per month in Isla de Margarita vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,204 per month in Isla de Margarita vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,760 per month in Isla de Margarita vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Isla de Margarita is about 61% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Isla de Margarita sits 53% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.13 VES 8,587

$8.02 COP 25.5K

26.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 VES 66.8K

$47.87 COP 152.0K

64.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 31.4K

Cappuccino

$2.46 VES 2,081

$3.13 COP 9,941

-21.41%

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

$1.02 VES 867

$1.91 COP 6,061

-46.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 VES 1,281

$1.51 COP 4,796

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 VES 871

$3.12 COP 9,921

-66.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 VES 2,512

$5.75 COP 18.3K

-48.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 VES 1,739

$1.44 COP 4,590

42.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.92 VES 2,473

$2.49 COP 7,898

17.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 VES 1,648

$1.77 COP 5,634

10.17%

Eggs

$2.42 VES 2,054

$2.96 COP 9,400

-18.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.91 VES 6,700

$10.07 COP 32.0K

-21.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.03 VES 6,806

$10.12 COP 32.1K

-20.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.04 VES 6,813

$14.30 COP 45.4K

-43.78%

Apples (1kg)

$4.08 VES 3,454

$4.14 COP 13.1K

-1.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 VES 1,233

$1.61 COP 5,109

-9.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 VES 1,645

$2.25 COP 7,132

-13.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.54 VES 2,149

$2.25 COP 7,154

12.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.48 VES 1,251

$2.04 COP 6,489

-27.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 VES 1,499

$1.54 COP 4,876

14.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 VES 867

$1.17 COP 3,716

-12.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,150

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.4K

Wine (Bottle)

$4.90 VES 4,154

$14.01 COP 44.5K

-65.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 VES 823

$1.74 COP 5,536

-44.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 VES 1,261

$2.87 COP 9,116

-48.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,860

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 255.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 VES 2,578

$1.31 COP 4,157

132.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.98 VES 2,525

$2.19 COP 6,947

36.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,336

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

$27.8K COP 88.4M

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

$35.8K COP 113.6M

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

$30.33 VES 25.7K

$177 COP 563.1K

-82.89%

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

$15.19 VES 12.9K

$13.88 COP 44.1K

9.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.72 VES 34.5K

$29.72 COP 94.4K

37.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.4 VES 42.7K

$44.88 COP 142.6K

12.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.84 VES 12.6K

$17.12 COP 54.4K

-13.32%

Cinema Ticket

$5.15 VES 4,361

$6.65 COP 21.1K

-22.56%

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

$813 COP 2.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 29.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.9 VES 66.9K

$89.5 COP 284.3K

-11.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 187.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 VES 86.2K

$138 COP 439.0K

-26.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.1 VES 84.0K

$102 COP 324.4K

-2.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 VES 251.8K

$1,062 COP 3.4M

-72.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 VES 421.4K

$1,888 COP 6.0M

-73.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$605 VES 512.5K

$4,183 COP 13.3M

-85.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.2M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Isla de Margarita: September 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $297 in Isla de Margarita versus $1,062 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 $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Isla de Margarita vs $305 in Medellin – so Isla de Margarita wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 160%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $971 per month in Isla de Margarita and $2,521 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.

Groceries cost about 30% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Isla de Margarita and $48.00 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 $648, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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.