Cost of Living Comparison Between Maracay and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Maracay and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $736 per month in Maracay vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,252 per month in Maracay vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,768 per month in Maracay vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Maracay is about 55% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Maracay sits 47% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maracay
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.91 VES 4,081
$8.04 COP 24.8K
-38.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.80 VES 27.2K
$48.29 COP 148.6K
-32.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.86 VES 6,531
$9.42 COP 29.0K
-16.56%
Cappuccino
$1.70 VES 1,411
$2.94 COP 9,040
-42.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 VES 1,018
$1.86 COP 5,735
-33.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 VES 963
$1.46 COP 4,479
-20.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.22 VES 1,011
$3.21 COP 9,882
-61.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 VES 2,562
$5.71 COP 17.6K
-46.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maracay
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.65 VES 2,203
$1.44 COP 4,428
84.03%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 VES 1,830
$2.40 COP 7,389
-8.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 VES 820
$1.70 COP 5,228
-41.76%
Eggs
$2.74 VES 2,273
$2.89 COP 8,896
-5.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.73 VES 5,589
$10.06 COP 30.9K
-33.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.76 VES 4,782
$9.97 COP 30.7K
-42.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.48 VES 7,040
$14.20 COP 43.7K
-40.28%
Apples (1kg)
$4.25 VES 3,527
$3.98 COP 12.3K
6.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.96 VES 1,624
$1.58 COP 4,878
24.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.11 VES 1,755
$2.15 COP 6,624
-1.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 VES 1,866
$2.30 COP 7,078
-2.17%
Potato (1kg)
$2.30 VES 1,908
$2.00 COP 6,169
15.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.21 VES 1,837
$1.51 COP 4,646
46.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.58 VES 1,315
$1.20 COP 3,701
31.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 VES 1,899
$1.28 COP 3,946
78.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54 VES 2,109
$3.84 COP 11.8K
-33.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.04 VES 8,333
$14.01 COP 43.1K
-28.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 VES 967
$1.71 COP 5,256
-32.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 VES 1,477
$2.74 COP 8,440
-35.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Maracay
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.48 VES 402
$1.25 COP 3,834
-61.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.37 VES 16.9K
$77.9 COP 239.7K
-73.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.98 VES 2,478
$1.31 COP 4,016
127.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.68 VES 2,224
$2.17 COP 6,680
23.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.11 VES 8,400
$8.29 COP 25.5K
21.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.61 VES 507
$1.36 COP 4,172
-55.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K VES 21.2M
$27.5K COP 84.5M
-7.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K VES 32.0M
$36.5K COP 112.4M
5.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maracay
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$12.66 VES 10.5K
$169 COP 519.2K
-92.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.83 VES 8,993
$13.57 COP 41.8K
-20.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.45 VES 30.3K
$28.32 COP 87.2K
28.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maracay
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.99 VES 24.9K
$45.71 COP 140.7K
-34.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.81 VES 12.3K
$17.22 COP 53.0K
-14.00%
Cinema Ticket
$4.05 VES 3,361
$6.65 COP 20.5K
-39.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maracay
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$74.6 VES 61.9K
$803 COP 2.5M
-90.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,048 VES 5.0M
$9,190 COP 28.3M
-34.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maracay
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.4 VES 43.5K
$87.4 COP 268.8K
-40.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.58 VES 30.4K
$59.4 COP 182.7K
-38.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 VES 68.1K
$139 COP 427.5K
-40.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.0 VES 78.0K
$102 COP 314.0K
-7.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maracay
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$225 VES 186.5K
$1,071 COP 3.3M
-79.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$108 VES 90.0K
$653 COP 2.0M
-83.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$555 VES 461.2K
$1,925 COP 5.9M
-71.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$270 VES 224.3K
$1,048 COP 3.2M
-74.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$454 VES 376.7K
$4,123 COP 12.7M
-89.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$200 VES 166.3K
$1,697 COP 5.2M
-88.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maracay
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$209 VES 173.4K
$655 COP 2.0M
-68.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
21.5
10.94
96.53%

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

Last update for Maracay: September 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $225 in Maracay versus $1,071 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 214% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Maracay versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $265 vs $300 – making Maracay 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
Maracay vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Maracay or Medellin?
Medellin costs about 123% more than Maracay, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Maracay and in Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,104 per month in Maracay and $2,462 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Maracay or Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Maracay, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Maracay or in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 13% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Maracay and in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Maracay and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Maracay or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Maracay, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Maracay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Maracay or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Maracay costs $736 versus $1,641 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Maracay or to Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Maracay. 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.

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