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 $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $2,980 in Port Vila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $4,025 in Port Vila, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $5,070 in Port Vila, rent included.

Medellin is about 65% cheaper than Port Vila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Port Vila is 123% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$11.23 VUV 1,310

-45.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$64.2 VUV 7,487

-49.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$9.37 VUV 1,093

-21.66%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$5.06 VUV 591

-66.01%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$2.18 VUV 254

-51.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$1.69 VUV 197

-54.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$4.42 VUV 516

-61.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$4.19 VUV 489

-24.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$2.22 VUV 259

-52.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$2.48 VUV 289

-47.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$3.85 VUV 449

-63.64%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$5.19 VUV 605

-58.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$20.31 VUV 2,368

-78.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$18.40 VUV 2,146

-68.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$18.41 VUV 2,147

-53.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$4.82 VUV 562

-52.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$2.09 VUV 244

-46.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$6.08 VUV 709

-74.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$2.55 VUV 297

-47.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$4.24 VUV 495

-73.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$2.08 VUV 243

-45.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$2.59 VUV 302

-67.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$1.05 VUV 123

-13.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$8.99 VUV 1,049

-73.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$12.67 VUV 1,478

-2.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$2.99 VUV 349

-59.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$3.02 VUV 352

-17.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$1.69 VUV 198

-50.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$66.6 VUV 7,773

-39.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$2.15 VUV 251

-33.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$0.82 VUV 96.0

134.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$5.04 VUV 588

51.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.85 VUV 216

-46.49%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$23.5K VUV 2.7M

-23.22%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$38.0K VUV 4.4M

-29.99%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$542 VUV 63.2K

-85.09%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$24.94 VUV 2,909

-60.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$226 VUV 26.4K

-89.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$16.52 VUV 1,926

15.92%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$12.55 VUV 1,464

-68.29%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$620 VUV 72.3K

-50.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$6,934 VUV 808.8K

-12.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$46.05 VUV 5,371

26.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$67.3 VUV 7,854

-52.18%

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

$1,894 VUV 220.9K

-74.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$1,412 VUV 164.7K

-73.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$3,379 VUV 394.2K

-75.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$2,063 VUV 240.6K

-64.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$6,092 VUV 710.6K

-47.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$2,199 VUV 256.5K

-37.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$689 VUV 80.4K

-10.46%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Port Vila: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $1,894 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 12% 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 $64.0 in Port Vila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $451 – 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 189%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $4,470 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 $64.0 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 $1,031 in Medellin and $2,980 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 $1,031, than in Port Vila at $2,980. 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.