Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Punto Fijo Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Punto Fijo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $658 in Punto Fijo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,118 in Punto Fijo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,579 in Punto Fijo, rent included.

Medellin costs about 57% more than Punto Fijo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Punto Fijo are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Punto Fijo 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$5.93 VES 4,361
3.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$25.01 VES 18.4K
30.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$8.71 VES 6,401
-15.73%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$1.57 VES 1,157
9.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$1.13 VES 829
-7.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$0.60 VES 444
28.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$1.38 VES 1,017
22.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$2.68 VES 1,971
18.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$1.69 VES 1,242
-37.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$1.56 VES 1,150
-16.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$1.08 VES 793
29.63%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$2.67 VES 1,962
-19.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$4.13 VES 3,038
6.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$5.63 VES 4,138
4.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$5.75 VES 4,225
50.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$5.13 VES 3,769
-55.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$0.74 VES 542
50.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$0.76 VES 561
101.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$0.98 VES 724
37.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$1.01 VES 745
11.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$1.02 VES 750
10.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$0.77 VES 565
10.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$1.14 VES 842
-20.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$4.03 VES 2,962
-41.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$1.28 VES 944
-6.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$2.45 VES 1,799
1.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$0.98 VES 722
-14.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$59.8 VES 44.0K
-32.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$6.35 VES 4,666
-77.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$3.60 VES 2,647
-46.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$0.52 VES 382
90.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$30.3K VES 22.3M
-40.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$25.3K VES 18.6M
5.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$21.96 VES 16.1K
267.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$31.90 VES 23.5K
-24.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$20.58 VES 15.1K
21.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$5.14 VES 3,779
272.57%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$7.55 VES 5,551
-47.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$50.5 VES 37.1K
504.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$45.48 VES 33.4K
27.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$34.97 VES 25.7K
-7.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$80.9 VES 59.5K
24.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$99.7 VES 73.3K
8.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$101 VES 74.4K
371.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$78.6 VES 57.8K
378.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$347 VES 255.3K
143.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$221 VES 162.6K
230.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$201 VES 148.0K
206.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
24
-44.04%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Punto Fijo: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $101 in Punto Fijo. 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 206% 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 $25.00 in Punto Fijo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $177 – making Punto Fijo 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 Punto Fijo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Punto Fijo cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 57%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $987 in Punto Fijo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Punto Fijo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Punto Fijo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $25.00 in Punto Fijo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Punto Fijo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $658 in Punto Fijo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Punto Fijo?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Punto Fijo, where all-in costs run around $658, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Punto Fijo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Punto Fijo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Punto Fijo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Punto Fijo. 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.

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