Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cabimas Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cabimas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $290 in Cabimas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $525 in Cabimas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $761 in Cabimas, rent included.

Medellin costs about 255% more than Cabimas, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Cabimas are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Cabimas 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$21.02 VES 15.5K

-70.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$25.50 VES 18.7K

27.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$1.12 VES 826

16.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$2.25 VES 1,655

-37.78%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$1.17 VES 861

84.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$2.17 VES 1,596

102.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$2.24 VES 1,647

285.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$2.17 VES 1,598

5.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$2.18 VES 1,602

-49.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$2.16 VES 1,585

-29.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$2.14 VES 1,573

-36.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$2.16 VES 1,587

-47.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$2.15 VES 1,579

-47.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$1.02 VES 748

-16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$1.02 VES 753

-10.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$1.46 VES 1,075

-17.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$1.02 VES 752

144.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

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

$305 COP 993.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

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)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 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 Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Cabimas: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $25.00 in Cabimas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $118 – making Cabimas 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

Medellin vs Cabimas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 255% more than Cabimas, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $435 in Cabimas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $290 in Cabimas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 64% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cabimas, where all-in costs run around $290, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Cabimas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cabimas costs $290 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 Cabimas. 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.