Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Vacoas Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Vacoas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $737 in Vacoas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,124 in Vacoas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,511 in Vacoas, rent included.

Medellin costs about 37% more than Vacoas, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Vacoas are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Vacoas 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$6.45 MUR 305

-7.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.2K

$32.98 MUR 1,560

-0.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$4.94 MUR 234

43.52%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,105

$2.57 MUR 122

-33.46%

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

$1.10 COP 3,918

$0.96 MUR 45.29

14.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,776

$0.56 MUR 26.64

39.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,987

$2.17 MUR 103

-22.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$2.00 MUR 94.9

53.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,899

$1.28 MUR 60.4

-14.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,500

$0.71 MUR 33.75

77.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,914

$1.29 MUR 60.9

6.98%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,813

$2.18 MUR 103

0.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$2.67 MUR 126

64.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$3.01 MUR 142

87.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.7K

$5.52 MUR 261

61.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,334

$1.99 MUR 94.0

17.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,771

$2.03 MUR 96.3

-47.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,365

$1.44 MUR 68.0

4.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,915

$2.74 MUR 130

-49.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,104

$1.03 MUR 48.50

11.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,148

$1.01 MUR 48.01

14.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,176

$0.79 MUR 37.31

12.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,992

$0.71 MUR 33.55

18.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,131

$5.67 MUR 268

-59.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$6.31 MUR 299

68.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,276

$1.44 MUR 68.0

-16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

$2.18 MUR 103

13.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

$1.01 MUR 47.96

-14.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,255

$4.47 MUR 212

-67.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,997

$2.63 MUR 124

-25.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$4.32 MUR 204

79.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,403

$1.41 MUR 66.9

-32.62%

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

$18.1K COP 64.6M

$26.7K MUR 1.3M

-31.98%

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

$26.5K COP 94.4M

$29.2K MUR 1.4M

-9.35%

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

$82.3 COP 293.2K

$49.62 MUR 2,348

65.76%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$10.89 MUR 515

-12.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.4K

$25.99 MUR 1,230

-6.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

$26.80 MUR 1,268

-3.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$5.49 MUR 260

-28.42%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$155 MUR 7,353

99.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$3,977 MUR 188.2K

49.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.1K

$29.28 MUR 1,386

100.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.3K

$29.55 MUR 1,399

9.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.7K

$65.7 MUR 3,108

56.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 386.5K

$59.8 MUR 2,830

81.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$266 MUR 12.6K

78.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$238 MUR 11.2K

59.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$506 MUR 23.9K

65.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$320 MUR 15.2K

125.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$700 MUR 33.1K

-26.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.25

216.00%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Vacoas: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $266 in Vacoas. 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 37% higher in Vacoas, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $33.00 in Vacoas. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Medellin vs $156 in Vacoas – so Vacoas wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Vacoas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 37%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,106 in Vacoas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Vacoas, 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 $33.00 in Vacoas. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Vacoas, where all-in costs run around $737, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Vacoas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Vacoas – 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 Vacoas. 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.