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