😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,687 in Medellin versus $508 in Cabudare.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,535 in Medellin versus $1,057 in Cabudare.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,383 in Medellin versus $1,606 in Cabudare.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 232% more expensive than in Cabudare, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Cabudare is 63% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Cabudare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$10.08VES 7,820
-21.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$50.2VES 39.0K
-11.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$10.11VES 7,840
-8.11%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$1.61VES 1,249
80.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$1.42VES 1,101
27.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$1.08VES 839
43.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Cabudare
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$2.88VES 2,234
-52.08%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$2.72VES 2,112
-9.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$2.23VES 1,730
-32.29%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$3.42VES 2,656
-18.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$7.14VES 5,538
26.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$7.94VES 6,155
34.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$11.18VES 8,669
30.86%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$4.54VES 3,518
-12.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$1.76VES 1,366
-21.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$0.72VES 558
219.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$1.02VES 787
98.04%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$1.03VES 796
102.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$1.47VES 1,137
10.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$0.65VES 503
66.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Cabudare
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$0.44VES 339
168.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
$40.76VES 31.6K
96.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$5.11VES 3,965
-68.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$2.53VES 1,962
-15.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$0.65VES 502
107.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Cabudare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$9.97VES 7,734
31.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$40.05VES 31.1K
-19.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Cabudare
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
$34.32VES 26.6K
34.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Cabudare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Cabudare
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Cabudare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$442VES 342.7K
357.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$291VES 225.5K
294.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Cabudare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Cabudare: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Medellin vs $50.0 in Cabudare. Groceries flip the comparison at $297 vs $223, with Cabudare cheaper for home cooking.
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 Cabudare: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Cabudare?
Cabudare wins on cost – living expenses run 232% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cabudare the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Cabudare?
You'd need roughly $2,530 in Medellin and $762 in Cabudare to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Cabudare?
Dining out is cheaper in Cabudare – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $45.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How expensive is transport in Medellin compared to Cabudare?
A monthly transit pass in Cabudare runs roughly 96% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Cabudare?
At $508 in Cabudare versus $1,687 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cabudare but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Cabudare the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Cabudare?
Both work as nomad bases, but Cabudare delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $508 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cabudare hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Cabudare gentler on the wallet – expenses run 232% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.