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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $653 in Maracay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,148 in Maracay, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,643 in Maracay, rent included.

Medellin costs about 55% more than Maracay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Maracay are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Maracay 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$11.76 VES 6,574

-49.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.2K

$56.0 VES 31.3K

-41.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$7.21 VES 4,031

-1.66%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,105

$1.35 VES 756

26.67%

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

$1.10 COP 3,918

$1.22 VES 684

-9.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,776

$0.97 VES 540

-19.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,987

$1.47 VES 824

14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$1.95 VES 1,087

57.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,899

$1.80 VES 1,003

-39.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,500

$2.67 VES 1,490

-52.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,914

$1.03 VES 575

33.98%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,813

$2.19 VES 1,226

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$6.67 VES 3,728

-34.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$5.63 VES 3,150

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.7K

$7.33 VES 4,099

21.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,334

$4.02 VES 2,248

-41.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,771

$1.87 VES 1,048

-43.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,365

$2.26 VES 1,265

-33.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,915

$2.06 VES 1,152

-33.01%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,104

$2.62 VES 1,462

-56.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,148

$2.05 VES 1,148

-43.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,176

$1.36 VES 758

-34.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,992

$1.87 VES 1,046

-55.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,131

$2.44 VES 1,365

-6.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$10.13 VES 5,665

5.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,276

$1.12 VES 627

7.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

$1.78 VES 996

38.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

$0.29 VES 160

196.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,255

$2.95 VES 1,647

-50.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,997

$2.74 VES 1,533

-28.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$9.90 VES 5,534

-21.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,403

$0.49 VES 274

93.88%

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

$18.1K COP 64.6M

$24.6K VES 13.7M

-26.22%

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

$26.5K COP 94.4M

$40.2K VES 22.5M

-34.08%

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

$82.3 COP 293.2K

$10.09 VES 5,638

715.16%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$12.84 VES 7,178

-26.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.4K

$39.35 VES 22.0K

-38.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

$52.5 VES 29.4K

-50.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$3.57 VES 1,995

10.08%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$130 VES 72.6K

138.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$5,571 VES 3.1M

7.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.1K

$24.75 VES 13.8K

137.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.3K

$30.04 VES 16.8K

7.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.7K

$79.1 VES 44.2K

29.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 386.5K

$99.8 VES 55.8K

8.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

$455 VES 254.6K

512.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$199 VES 111.1K

509.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$179 VES 99.9K

186.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

21.33

-37.04%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Maracay: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 186% 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 Medellin versus $56.0 in Maracay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $248 – 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

Medellin vs Maracay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 55% 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $980 in Maracay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $653 in Maracay. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Medellin and $130 in Maracay. 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 $653, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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 $653 versus $1,013 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.