😐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 – Medellin23% lower, Punto Fijo51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$5.93VES 4,361
3.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$25.01VES 18.4K
30.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$8.71VES 6,401
-15.73%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$1.57VES 1,157
9.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$1.13VES 829
-7.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$0.60VES 444
28.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$1.38VES 1,017
22.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$2.68VES 1,971
18.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.69VES 1,242
-37.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$1.56VES 1,150
-16.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$1.08VES 793
29.63%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$2.67VES 1,962
-19.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$4.13VES 3,038
6.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$5.63VES 4,138
4.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$5.75VES 4,225
50.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$5.13VES 3,769
-55.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$0.74VES 542
50.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$0.76VES 561
101.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$0.98VES 724
37.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$1.01VES 745
11.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$1.02VES 750
10.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$0.77VES 565
10.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$1.14VES 842
-20.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$4.03VES 2,962
-41.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$1.28VES 944
-6.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$2.45VES 1,799
1.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$0.98VES 722
-14.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$59.8VES 44.0K
-32.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$6.35VES 4,666
-77.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$3.60VES 2,647
-46.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$0.52VES 382
90.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$30.3KVES 22.3M
-40.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$25.3KVES 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)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$21.96VES 16.1K
267.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$31.90VES 23.5K
-24.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$20.58VES 15.1K
21.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$5.14VES 3,779
272.57%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$7.55VES 5,551
-47.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$50.5VES 37.1K
504.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$45.48VES 33.4K
27.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$34.97VES 25.7K
-7.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$80.9VES 59.5K
24.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$99.7VES 73.3K
8.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$101VES 74.4K
371.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$78.6VES 57.8K
378.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$347VES 255.3K
143.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$221VES 162.6K
230.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Punto Fijo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$201VES 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.