Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Port Vila Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Port Vila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $2,983 in Port Vila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $4,058 in Port Vila, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $5,134 in Port Vila, rent included.

Medellin is about 66% cheaper than Port Vila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Port Vila is 123% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$11.14 VUV 1,281

-46.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.2K

$64.5 VUV 7,420

-49.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$9.83 VUV 1,130

-27.87%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,105

$5.25 VUV 603

-67.43%

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

$1.10 COP 3,918

$2.15 VUV 247

-48.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,776

$1.74 VUV 200

-55.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,987

$4.42 VUV 508

-61.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$4.23 VUV 486

-27.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,899

$2.23 VUV 257

-51.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,500

$2.50 VUV 288

-49.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,914

$3.93 VUV 452

-64.89%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,813

$5.18 VUV 596

-57.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$20.04 VUV 2,304

-78.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$18.57 VUV 2,136

-69.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.7K

$18.19 VUV 2,092

-51.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,334

$4.66 VUV 536

-49.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,771

$2.05 VUV 236

-48.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,365

$6.03 VUV 694

-75.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,915

$2.47 VUV 284

-44.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,104

$4.40 VUV 506

-73.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,148

$2.18 VUV 251

-46.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,176

$2.57 VUV 296

-65.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,992

$1.06 VUV 121

-20.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,131

$9.46 VUV 1,088

-75.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$12.44 VUV 1,431

-14.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,276

$2.95 VUV 340

-59.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

$2.94 VUV 338

-15.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

$1.72 VUV 198

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

$68.0 VUV 7,820

-39.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,255

$2.14 VUV 246

-31.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,997

$0.82 VUV 94.8

139.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$5.10 VUV 587

51.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,403

$1.89 VUV 217

-49.74%

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

$18.1K COP 64.6M

$23.1K VUV 2.7M

-21.51%

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

$26.5K COP 94.4M

$38.6K VUV 4.4M

-31.31%

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

$82.3 COP 293.2K

$531 VUV 61.1K

-84.51%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$25.37 VUV 2,918

-62.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.4K

$227 VUV 26.2K

-89.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

$16.92 VUV 1,947

12.29%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$12.71 VUV 1,462

-69.08%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$624 VUV 71.8K

-50.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$6,796 VUV 781.6K

-12.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.1K

$45.92 VUV 5,282

27.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.3K

$68.2 VUV 7,844

-52.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 386.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$1,882 VUV 216.4K

-74.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$1,392 VUV 160.1K

-72.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$3,353 VUV 385.6K

-75.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$2,083 VUV 239.6K

-65.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

$6,040 VUV 694.8K

-53.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$2,291 VUV 263.5K

-47.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$696 VUV 80.1K

-26.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

91.86%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Port Vila: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $1,882 in Port Vila. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 36% higher in Port Vila, 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 $65.0 in Port Vila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $449 – 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 Port Vila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Port Vila is pricier by about 195%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $4,474 in Port Vila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $65.0 in Port Vila. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $2,983 in Port Vila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Port Vila at $2,983. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Vila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Port Vila makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.