😐A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $992 in Punto Fijo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $1,696 in Punto Fijo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $2,400 in Punto Fijo, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 65% more than Punto Fijo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Punto Fijo is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$14.72VES 12.2K
-45.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.7K
$80.3VES 66.7K
-39.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,045
$2.31VES 1,915
27.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,738
$1.46VES 1,213
27.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,481
$0.73VES 606
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,887
$1.94VES 1,614
65.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$5.58VES 4,637
2.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,431
$2.57VES 2,138
-43.97%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,393
$2.47VES 2,049
-2.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,230
$3.42VES 2,837
-50.29%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,901
$6.34VES 5,261
-54.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 31.0K
$6.12VES 5,079
64.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$5.04VES 4,185
97.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$4.91VES 4,073
189.21%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$7.88VES 6,547
-49.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,880
$4.90VES 4,072
-67.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,627
$5.06VES 4,205
-57.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,082
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,172
$5.95VES 4,942
-66.39%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,648
$4.97VES 4,129
-69.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,703
$3.06VES 2,544
-60.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,948
$1.49VES 1,235
-14.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$3.94VES 3,272
-2.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,259
$1.99VES 1,649
-14.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,444
$4.90VES 4,071
-44.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,836
$1.24VES 1,027
0.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,018
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,684
$6.85VES 5,684
-68.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,174
$0.49VES 404
177.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.6M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.5M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.5K
$49.51VES 41.1K
240.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$9.96VES 8,273
36.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$38.03VES 31.6K
-25.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.8K
$39.89VES 33.1K
14.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$200VES 166.0K
301.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$3,591VES 3.0M
155.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 269.0K
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.8K
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.7K
$34.76VES 28.9K
299.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.2K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$405VES 336.4K
164.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$294VES 244.5K
121.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$794VES 659.3K
142.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$612VES 508.0K
71.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$203VES 168.8K
222.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Punto Fijo: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $405 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 222% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $80.0 in Punto Fijo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $314 – 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 Punto Fijo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Punto Fijo cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 65%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $2,462 per month in Medellin and $1,488 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 $48.00 in Medellin and $80.0 in Punto Fijo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Punto Fijo?
Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
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 $992, than in Medellin at $1,641. 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.