Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Laos and Medellin
For one person, living is cheaper in Laos: $1,157 a month against $1,589 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
-
Laos Living Index56Cost of Living Index in LaosLearn more -
Medellin Living Index77Cost of Living Index in MedellinLearn more
🙂 Solo nomad: Laos is 27.3% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 27.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Laos is 29.8% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 23.8% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Laos
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.19 LAK 48.8K
$8.01 COP 25.5K
-72.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.04 LAK 402.4K
$46.55 COP 148.3K
-61.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.28 LAK 117.7K
$9.43 COP 30.1K
-44.01%
Cappuccino
$1.78 LAK 39.7K
$2.91 COP 9,277
-38.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 LAK 17.1K
$1.75 COP 5,585
-56.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 LAK 9,154
$1.32 COP 4,218
-68.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.29 LAK 28.8K
$3.13 COP 9,969
-58.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 LAK 40.6K
$5.55 COP 17.7K
-67.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Laos
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.00 LAK 44.6K
$1.41 COP 4,495
41.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 LAK 24.7K
$2.44 COP 7,777
-54.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.04 LAK 23.3K
$1.63 COP 5,191
-36.20%
Eggs
$1.91 LAK 42.7K
$2.82 COP 8,990
-32.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.53 LAK 524.7K
$9.69 COP 30.9K
142.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.16 LAK 137.4K
$9.32 COP 29.7K
-33.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.76 LAK 150.8K
$13.46 COP 42.9K
-49.78%
Apples (1kg)
$1.75 LAK 38.9K
$4.00 COP 12.8K
-56.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 LAK 25.7K
$1.48 COP 4,719
-22.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 LAK 56.8K
$2.12 COP 6,768
20.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 LAK 33.4K
$2.25 COP 7,178
-33.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 LAK 33.3K
$1.91 COP 6,092
-21.99%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 LAK 24.8K
$1.62 COP 5,160
-31.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 LAK 23.9K
$1.15 COP 3,658
-6.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 LAK 11.5K
$1.26 COP 4,021
-58.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.73 LAK 38.6K
$3.82 COP 12.2K
-54.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.04 LAK 223.8K
$13.11 COP 41.8K
-23.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 LAK 24.9K
$1.60 COP 5,083
-30.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 LAK 39.7K
$2.26 COP 7,188
-21.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Laos
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.49 LAK 10.9K
$1.17 COP 3,731
-58.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.9 LAK 1.3M
$75.0 COP 239.0K
-24.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.24 LAK 27.7K
$1.27 COP 4,056
-2.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 LAK 21.9K
$2.05 COP 6,531
-52.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.50 LAK 100.3K
$8.20 COP 26.1K
-45.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 LAK 32.6K
$1.27 COP 4,046
14.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K LAK 630.4M
$26.8K COP 85.3M
5.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K LAK 630.8M
$34.4K COP 109.6M
-17.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laos
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.7 LAK 2.0M
$162 COP 516.9K
-45.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.97 LAK 445.4K
$13.12 COP 41.8K
52.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.96 LAK 244.5K
$28.09 COP 89.5K
-60.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Laos
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.9 LAK 1.2M
$44.33 COP 141.2K
26.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.53 LAK 167.8K
$16.33 COP 52.0K
-53.89%
Cinema Ticket
$3.29 LAK 73.4K
$6.09 COP 19.4K
-45.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Laos
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$326 LAK 7.3M
$764 COP 2.4M
-57.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K LAK 233.2M
$8,904 COP 28.4M
17.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Laos
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.8 LAK 1.1M
$85.0 COP 270.8K
-40.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.2 LAK 1.4M
$57.5 COP 183.2K
9.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.4 LAK 1.6M
$132 COP 419.8K
-44.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.5 LAK 1.2M
$95.8 COP 305.1K
-45.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Laos
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$807 LAK 18.0M
$1,028 COP 3.3M
-21.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$487 LAK 10.9M
$604 COP 1.9M
-19.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,531 LAK 34.1M
$1,802 COP 5.7M
-15.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$953 LAK 21.3M
$993 COP 3.2M
-3.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,554 LAK 57.0M
$3,921 COP 12.5M
-34.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$883 LAK 19.7M
$1,639 COP 5.2M
-46.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Laos
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$484 LAK 10.8M
$626 COP 2.0M
-22.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.06
10.94
-8.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Laos: October 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Laos $487 42.1%
Medellin $604 38.3% 24.2% $118
Groceries & Markets
Laos $244 21.2%
Medellin $288 18.3% 18% $44
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laos $120 10.4%
Medellin $203 12.9% 70% $84
Clothing & Footwear
Laos $108 9.3%
Medellin $166 10.6% 54.2% $59
Eating Out
Laos $70 6%
Medellin $166 10.6% 139% $97
Getting Around
Laos $65 5.6%
Medellin $91 5.8% 40.4% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Laos $62 5.4%
Medellin $57 3.6% 9.6% $6
Accommodation & Living
Laos $953 40%
Medellin $993 31.9% 4.1% $39
Groceries & Markets
Laos $563 23.6%
Medellin $664 21.3% 17.9% $101
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laos $140 5.9%
Medellin $217 7% 55.1% $77
Clothing & Footwear
Laos $240 10.1%
Medellin $370 11.9% 54.3% $130
Eating Out
Laos $223 9.4%
Medellin $560 18% 150% $336
Getting Around
Laos $131 5.5%
Medellin $185 5.9% 41.2% $54
Sport & Entertainment
Laos $133 5.6%
Medellin $129 4.2% 2.4% $3.2
Good to know
🇱🇦 Laos
🇨🇴 Medellin
Weather
Population
6,858,160
2,486,723
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Laos Medellin 17,310 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
- Laos
- Medellin
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
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