Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Laos
For one person, living is cheaper in Laos: $1,157 a month against $1,589 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
-
Medellin Living Index77Cost of Living Index in MedellinLearn more -
Laos Living Index56Cost of Living Index in LaosLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 37.5% more expensive than Laos without rent, and 37.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 42.4% more expensive than Laos without rent, and 31.3% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Laos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.01 COP 25.5K
$2.19 LAK 48.8K
265.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.55 COP 148.3K
$18.04 LAK 402.4K
158.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.43 COP 30.1K
$5.28 LAK 117.7K
78.60%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,277
$1.78 LAK 39.7K
63.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 COP 5,585
$0.77 LAK 17.1K
127.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 COP 4,218
$0.41 LAK 9,154
221.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.13 COP 9,969
$1.29 LAK 28.8K
142.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55 COP 17.7K
$1.82 LAK 40.6K
204.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Laos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 COP 4,495
$2.00 LAK 44.6K
-29.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.44 COP 7,777
$1.11 LAK 24.7K
119.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 COP 5,191
$1.04 LAK 23.3K
56.73%
Eggs
$2.82 COP 8,990
$1.91 LAK 42.7K
47.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 COP 30.9K
$23.53 LAK 524.7K
-58.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.32 COP 29.7K
$6.16 LAK 137.4K
51.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.46 COP 42.9K
$6.76 LAK 150.8K
99.11%
Apples (1kg)
$4.00 COP 12.8K
$1.75 LAK 38.9K
128.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 COP 4,719
$1.15 LAK 25.7K
28.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 COP 6,768
$2.55 LAK 56.8K
-16.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,178
$1.50 LAK 33.4K
50.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 COP 6,092
$1.49 LAK 33.3K
28.19%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 COP 5,160
$1.11 LAK 24.8K
45.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,658
$1.07 LAK 23.9K
7.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 COP 4,021
$0.52 LAK 11.5K
142.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82 COP 12.2K
$1.73 LAK 38.6K
120.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.11 COP 41.8K
$10.04 LAK 223.8K
30.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 5,083
$1.12 LAK 24.9K
42.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,188
$1.78 LAK 39.7K
26.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Laos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,731
$0.49 LAK 10.9K
138.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.0 COP 239.0K
$56.9 LAK 1.3M
31.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,056
$1.24 LAK 27.7K
2.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,531
$0.98 LAK 21.9K
109.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 COP 26.1K
$4.50 LAK 100.3K
82.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 COP 4,046
$1.46 LAK 32.6K
-13.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K COP 85.3M
$28.3K LAK 630.4M
-5.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K COP 109.6M
$28.3K LAK 630.8M
21.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Laos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 COP 516.9K
$88.7 LAK 2.0M
82.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12 COP 41.8K
$19.97 LAK 445.4K
-34.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.09 COP 89.5K
$10.96 LAK 244.5K
156.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Laos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.33 COP 141.2K
$55.9 LAK 1.2M
-20.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 COP 52.0K
$7.53 LAK 167.8K
116.87%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09 COP 19.4K
$3.29 LAK 73.4K
85.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Laos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$764 COP 2.4M
$326 LAK 7.3M
134.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,904 COP 28.4M
$10.5K LAK 233.2M
-14.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Laos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0 COP 270.8K
$50.8 LAK 1.1M
67.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 COP 183.2K
$63.2 LAK 1.4M
-8.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$132 COP 419.8K
$73.4 LAK 1.6M
79.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8 COP 305.1K
$52.5 LAK 1.2M
82.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Laos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$807 LAK 18.0M
27.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$604 COP 1.9M
$487 LAK 10.9M
24.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,802 COP 5.7M
$1,531 LAK 34.1M
17.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$993 COP 3.2M
$953 LAK 21.3M
4.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,921 COP 12.5M
$2,554 LAK 57.0M
53.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,639 COP 5.2M
$883 LAK 19.7M
85.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Laos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$626 COP 2.0M
$484 LAK 10.8M
29.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
10.06
8.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026
Last update for Laos: October 6, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin $604 38.3%
Laos $487 42.1% 19.5% $118
Groceries & Markets
Medellin $288 18.3%
Laos $244 21.2% 15.3% $44
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin $203 12.9%
Laos $120 10.4% 41.2% $84
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin $166 10.6%
Laos $108 9.3% 35.2% $59
Eating Out
Medellin $166 10.6%
Laos $70 6% 58.2% $97
Getting Around
Medellin $91 5.8%
Laos $65 5.6% 28.8% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin $57 3.6%
Laos $62 5.4% 10.6% $6
Accommodation & Living
Medellin $993 31.9%
Laos $953 40% 3.9% $39
Groceries & Markets
Medellin $664 21.3%
Laos $563 23.6% 15.2% $101
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin $217 7%
Laos $140 5.9% 35.5% $77
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin $370 11.9%
Laos $240 10.1% 35.2% $130
Eating Out
Medellin $560 18%
Laos $223 9.4% 60.1% $336
Getting Around
Medellin $185 5.9%
Laos $131 5.5% 29.2% $54
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin $129 4.2%
Laos $133 5.6% 2.5% $3.2
Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇱🇦 Laos
Weather
Population
2,486,723
6,858,160
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Medellin Laos 17,310 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
- Medellin
- Laos
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 other spots: cost of living compared
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,203
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,561
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Johannesburg
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,406
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Bogota
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,310
/mo nomad
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