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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $642 per month in Maracay vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,125 per month in Maracay vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,608 per month in Maracay vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Maracay is about 38% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Maracay and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Maracay 52% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.97 VES 8,796

$6.16 COP 20.1K

94.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.7 VES 40.2K

$32.60 COP 106.1K

67.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.35 VES 5,401

$7.34 COP 23.9K

0.14%

Cappuccino

$1.34 VES 985

$1.72 COP 5,600

-22.09%

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

$1.23 VES 904

$1.05 COP 3,420

17.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 VES 751

$0.77 COP 2,515

32.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 VES 1,134

$1.69 COP 5,488

-8.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 VES 1,487

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-36.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 VES 1,335

$1.05 COP 3,423

73.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 VES 1,991

$1.30 COP 4,236

108.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 VES 790

$1.40 COP 4,544

-23.57%

Eggs

$2.23 VES 1,641

$2.16 COP 7,047

3.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.81 VES 5,004

$4.39 COP 14.3K

55.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.46 VES 4,014

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-7.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.37 VES 5,416

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-14.70%

Apples (1kg)

$3.91 VES 2,876

$2.28 COP 7,426

71.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 VES 1,369

$1.11 COP 3,604

67.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 VES 1,596

$1.53 COP 4,983

41.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.05 VES 1,509

$1.35 COP 4,410

51.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.64 VES 1,943

$1.13 COP 3,674

133.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.14 VES 1,573

$1.13 COP 3,692

89.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 VES 951

$0.85 COP 2,753

51.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 VES 1,400

$0.91 COP 2,975

108.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 VES 1,864

$2.34 COP 7,630

8.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.82 VES 7,217

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-20.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 VES 861

$1.20 COP 3,909

-2.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 VES 1,270

$2.49 COP 8,104

-30.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 VES 230

$0.84 COP 2,728

-63.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 VES 2,158

$1.42 COP 4,623

107.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.77 VES 2,038

$1.92 COP 6,235

44.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.14 VES 7,452

$7.66 COP 24.9K

32.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 VES 375

$0.99 COP 3,223

-48.48%

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

$24.9K VES 18.3M

$18.0K COP 58.7M

38.27%

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

$39.6K VES 29.1M

$26.6K COP 86.7M

48.58%

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

$10.06 VES 7,398

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-87.55%

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

$13.14 VES 9,658

$9.95 COP 32.4K

32.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.46 VES 29.0K

$24.18 COP 78.7K

63.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.0 VES 39.0K

$25.08 COP 81.7K

111.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.55 VES 2,606

$3.98 COP 13.0K

-10.80%

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

$130 VES 95.9K

$305 COP 993.5K

-57.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,448 VES 4.0M

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-10.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.53 VES 18.0K

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-57.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.53 VES 21.7K

$32.20 COP 104.8K

-8.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 VES 58.4K

$101 COP 327.9K

-21.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 VES 74.9K

$108 COP 350.8K

-5.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$444 VES 326.0K

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-86.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$203 VES 149.0K

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-85.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 VES 131.5K

$617 COP 2.0M

-70.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.33

13.43

58.82%

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

Last update for Maracay: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 245% 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 $55.0 in Maracay versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 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

Maracay vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 61% more than Maracay, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $963 per month in Maracay and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $642 in Maracay and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $130 per month in Maracay and $305 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Maracay, where all-in costs run around $642, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Maracay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Maracay costs $642 versus $1,031 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.