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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 5.3% cheaper than Vientiane without rent, and 28.2% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 16.9% more expensive than Vientiane without rent, and 26.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14 COP 22.1K
$2.37 LAK 52.1K
159.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05 COP 119.0K
$19.11 LAK 419.8K
72.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.32 COP 26.4K
$4.58 LAK 100.6K
59.83%
Cappuccino
$1.66 COP 5,971
$1.61 LAK 35.4K
3.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,977
$0.52 LAK 11.4K
111.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,815
$0.37 LAK 8,131
110.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 COP 6,172
$1.23 LAK 26.9K
39.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 11.4K
$1.69 LAK 37.2K
87.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 COP 4,002
$1.98 LAK 43.5K
-43.94%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,707
$0.90 LAK 19.7K
45.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,967
$0.91 LAK 20.0K
51.65%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 7,989
$1.79 LAK 39.4K
24.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.34 COP 15.6K
$28.11 LAK 617.6K
-84.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COP 20.9K
$6.55 LAK 143.9K
-11.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.98 COP 32.3K
$6.31 LAK 138.7K
42.31%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 8,143
$2.02 LAK 44.3K
11.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,013
$1.08 LAK 23.7K
2.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 COP 5,271
$2.05 LAK 45.1K
-28.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,916
$1.34 LAK 29.4K
2.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,999
$1.68 LAK 36.8K
-33.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,188
$1.01 LAK 22.2K
14.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,202
$0.66 LAK 14.4K
34.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 COP 3,116
$0.36 LAK 7,806
141.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 8,473
$2.02 LAK 44.4K
16.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.86 COP 39.1K
$9.91 LAK 217.8K
9.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,319
$0.97 LAK 21.4K
23.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 8,923
$1.71 LAK 37.5K
45.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,835
$0.47 LAK 10.4K
68.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.77 COP 146.8K
$51.4 LAK 1.1M
-20.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 5,124
$2.02 LAK 44.4K
-29.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,882
$1.19 LAK 26.1K
60.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.65 COP 27.5K
$4.94 LAK 108.6K
54.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,481
$1.41 LAK 31.1K
-31.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COP 65.2M
$29.3K LAK 644.2M
-38.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K COP 94.7M
$29.3K LAK 644.1M
-10.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 COP 292.8K
$73.9 LAK 1.6M
10.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63 COP 34.7K
$32.20 LAK 707.5K
-70.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36 COP 87.7K
$11.50 LAK 252.7K
111.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.02 COP 93.7K
$51.7 LAK 1.1M
-49.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 COP 68.1K
$5.62 LAK 123.4K
236.65%
Cinema Ticket
$3.89 COP 14.0K
$2.57 LAK 56.5K
51.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 COP 1.1M
$337 LAK 7.4M
-9.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,902 COP 21.3M
$9,252 LAK 203.3M
-36.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COP 211.3K
$27.83 LAK 611.4K
110.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48 COP 116.9K
$69.4 LAK 1.5M
-53.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 366.3K
$58.2 LAK 1.3M
74.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 389.4K
$42.55 LAK 934.8K
154.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$474 COP 1.7M
$860 LAK 18.9M
-44.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COP 1.3M
$788 LAK 17.3M
-52.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$848 COP 3.1M
$941 LAK 20.7M
-9.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$1,634 LAK 35.9M
-56.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 COP 10.3M
$2,319 LAK 50.9M
23.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,375 COP 5.0M
$1,122 LAK 24.7M
22.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Vientiane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$542 COP 1.9M
$270 LAK 5.9M
100.69%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Vientiane: April 14, 2026

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

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