Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Vientiane Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Vientiane

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 7% more expensive than Vientiane without rent, and 26.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 2.8% cheaper than Vientiane without rent, and 28.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COP 22.7K
$2.30 LAK 49.6K
162.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 124.8K
$19.33 LAK 417.2K
71.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COP 27.4K
$4.51 LAK 97.4K
61.64%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 6,133
$1.65 LAK 35.5K
-1.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,947
$0.55 LAK 11.9K
90.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,899
$0.34 LAK 7,442
126.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COP 6,510
$1.21 LAK 26.1K
42.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 12.0K
$1.69 LAK 36.5K
88.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COP 4,015
$1.99 LAK 43.0K
-46.23%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,935
$0.92 LAK 19.8K
42.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 5,195
$0.93 LAK 20.1K
48.39%
Eggs
$2.25 COP 8,457
$1.79 LAK 38.5K
25.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COP 16.9K
$28.11 LAK 606.7K
-84.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COP 21.6K
$6.75 LAK 145.7K
-14.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COP 33.3K
$6.09 LAK 131.4K
45.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,438
$1.94 LAK 41.8K
15.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,988
$1.13 LAK 24.5K
-6.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,697
$2.04 LAK 44.1K
-25.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 5,119
$1.37 LAK 29.6K
-0.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,218
$1.68 LAK 36.3K
-33.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,400
$1.02 LAK 22.0K
14.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 3,395
$0.61 LAK 13.3K
47.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,150
$0.38 LAK 8,271
121.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 8,501
$1.94 LAK 41.9K
16.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COP 37.5K
$10.16 LAK 219.3K
-1.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,451
$0.98 LAK 21.1K
20.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COP 8,993
$1.81 LAK 39.1K
32.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,233
$0.45 LAK 9,635
91.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COP 156.0K
$50.3 LAK 1.1M
-17.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,521
$1.96 LAK 42.4K
-25.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 7,323
$1.18 LAK 25.4K
65.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COP 29.2K
$4.76 LAK 102.8K
63.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,640
$1.39 LAK 30.0K
-30.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 67.5M
$28.9K LAK 623.6M
-37.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COP 100.6M
$29.2K LAK 629.4M
-8.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 305.2K
$73.0 LAK 1.6M
11.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COP 35.4K
$32.30 LAK 697.1K
-70.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COP 88.8K
$11.35 LAK 244.9K
108.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COP 96.1K
$50.4 LAK 1.1M
-49.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COP 72.6K
$5.71 LAK 123.1K
237.83%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COP 15.4K
$2.53 LAK 54.6K
62.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.2M
$341 LAK 7.4M
-10.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COP 22.2M
$9,367 LAK 202.1M
-37.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COP 225.1K
$27.39 LAK 591.0K
118.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COP 120.3K
$68.8 LAK 1.5M
-53.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 386.5K
$57.8 LAK 1.2M
77.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 405.9K
$41.63 LAK 898.4K
159.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COP 1.8M
$856 LAK 18.5M
-43.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COP 1.4M
$796 LAK 17.2M
-52.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COP 3.1M
$950 LAK 20.5M
-13.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COP 2.7M
$1,652 LAK 35.6M
-56.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 COP 10.5M
$2,395 LAK 51.7M
16.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,320 COP 5.0M
$1,134 LAK 24.5M
16.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$538 COP 2.0M
$279 LAK 6.0M
92.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
10.12
32.71%

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

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

Last update for Vientiane: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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