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

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 3.2% more expensive than Vientiane without rent, and 30.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 9.2% cheaper than Vientiane without rent, and 31% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$2.35 LAK 50.4K
165.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$19.65 LAK 421.8K
64.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$4.48 LAK 96.1K
64.96%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$1.62 LAK 34.8K
6.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$0.51 LAK 11.1K
115.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.37 LAK 8,035
97.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$1.22 LAK 26.3K
36.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$1.71 LAK 36.8K
87.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.91 LAK 41.1K
-42.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$0.89 LAK 19.1K
39.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$0.98 LAK 20.9K
35.71%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$1.85 LAK 39.6K
20.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$28.17 LAK 604.6K
-83.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$6.5 LAK 139.4K
-12.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$6.21 LAK 133.4K
38.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$1.93 LAK 41.5K
17.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.12 LAK 24.1K
-4.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$2.12 LAK 45.5K
-28.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$1.39 LAK 29.8K
2.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$1.62 LAK 34.7K
-31.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$1.04 LAK 22.4K
13.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$0.66 LAK 14.1K
34.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$0.39 LAK 8,306
115.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$1.95 LAK 41.8K
20.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$10.48 LAK 224.8K
-10.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$0.97 LAK 20.9K
21.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$1.73 LAK 37.1K
43.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$0.47 LAK 10.1K
76.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$50.5 LAK 1.1M
-17.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$2.01 LAK 43.2K
-29.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$1.13 LAK 24.2K
73.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$4.85 LAK 104.2K
61.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.35 LAK 29K
-24.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$28.7K LAK 616.6M
-38.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$29.1K LAK 624.4M
-9.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$72.5 LAK 1.6M
13.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$32.46 LAK 696.5K
-70.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$11.26 LAK 241.7K
108.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$51.7 LAK 1.1M
-50.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$5.8 LAK 124.4K
230.00%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$2.57 LAK 55.1K
54.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$336 LAK 7.2M
-9.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$9,369 LAK 201.1M
-36.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$27.82 LAK 597.1K
108.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$69.9 LAK 1.5M
-54.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$59.6 LAK 1.3M
73.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$42.16 LAK 904.9K
150.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$874 LAK 18.8M
-44.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$782 LAK 16.8M
-51.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$931 LAK 20M
-11.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$1,659 LAK 35.6M
-56.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$1,818 LAK 39M
20.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$99.1 LAK 2.1M
1446.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$271 LAK 5.8M
102.83%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Vientiane: October 29, 2025

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