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 $650 per month in Isla de Margarita vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,218 per month in Isla de Margarita vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,786 per month in Isla de Margarita vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Isla de Margarita is about 35% 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 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.87 VES 7,370

$5.91 COP 18.6K

67.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.4 VES 60.0K

$32.96 COP 103.8K

143.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

Cappuccino

$2.47 VES 1,844

$1.65 COP 5,207

49.70%

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

$0.98 VES 730

$1.10 COP 3,468

-10.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 VES 1,111

$0.78 COP 2,458

91.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 VES 766

$1.72 COP 5,412

-40.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 VES 2,277

$3.18 COP 10.0K

-4.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 VES 1,510

$1.10 COP 3,474

83.64%

White Bread (500g)

$3.05 VES 2,280

$1.26 COP 3,962

142.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 VES 1,533

$1.38 COP 4,349

48.55%

Eggs

$2.34 VES 1,744

$2.18 COP 6,858

7.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.04 VES 6,002

$4.49 COP 14.1K

79.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.13 VES 6,075

$5.79 COP 18.2K

40.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.06 VES 6,023

$8.97 COP 28.2K

-10.14%

Apples (1kg)

$4.11 VES 3,071

$2.32 COP 7,308

77.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 VES 1,153

$1.06 COP 3,352

45.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 VES 1,522

$1.52 COP 4,774

34.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.55 VES 1,901

$1.36 COP 4,270

87.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.48 VES 1,103

$1.13 COP 3,552

30.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 VES 1,321

$1.17 COP 3,689

51.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 VES 768

$0.90 COP 2,838

14.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

Wine (Bottle)

$5.11 VES 3,817

$12.12 COP 38.2K

-57.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 VES 737

$1.19 COP 3,743

-16.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 VES 1,145

$2.48 COP 7,815

-38.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 VES 2,300

$1.42 COP 4,459

116.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.96 VES 2,213

$1.95 COP 6,141

51.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

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

$30.45 VES 22.7K

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-63.32%

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

$15.23 VES 11.4K

$9.70 COP 30.5K

57.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.42 VES 30.2K

$23.52 COP 74.1K

71.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.5 VES 37.7K

$25.26 COP 79.5K

100.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.24 VES 11.4K

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-20.21%

Cinema Ticket

$4.85 VES 3,624

$3.95 COP 12.4K

22.78%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.0 VES 59.7K

$60.0 COP 188.9K

33.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.2 VES 73.3K

$102 COP 320.1K

-3.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 VES 75.2K

$107 COP 338.3K

-6.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$298 VES 222.5K

$475 COP 1.5M

-37.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$499 VES 372.9K

$849 COP 2.7M

-41.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$592 VES 442.0K

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-81.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $298 in Isla de Margarita versus $475 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 $80.0 in Isla de Margarita versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 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

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

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 54%, 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 $976 per month in Isla de Margarita and $1,504 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 23% 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 $80.0 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 $650, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.