😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,170 in Vilagarcia de Arousa, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,739 in Vilagarcia de Arousa, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $2,309 in Vilagarcia de Arousa, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 44% more than Vilagarcia de Arousa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Vilagarcia de Arousa is 14% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Vilagarcia de Arousa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$9.04€7.88
-11.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$39.64€34.55
20.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$9.19€8.01
7.62%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$1.87€1.63
67.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$2.44€2.13
-21.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$1.63€1.42
-7.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$2.57€2.24
21.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$3.41€2.98
68.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Vilagarcia de Arousa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$1.07€0.94
34.58%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$1.31€1.14
90.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$1.78€1.55
-0.56%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$3.03€2.64
-2.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$6.77€5.90
48.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$7.11€6.20
42.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$8.24€7.18
73.54%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$2.70€2.36
53.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$2.78€2.42
-42.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$2.55€2.22
-11.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$2.34€2.04
-3.85%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$2.21€1.93
-7.69%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$2.66€2.32
-42.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$1.56€1.36
-25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$0.78€0.68
67.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$5.15€4.49
-24.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$4.75€4.14
194.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$1.15€1.01
51.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$2.11€1.84
36.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Vilagarcia de Arousa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$1.65€1.44
-26.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
$19.52€17.02
312.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$5.37€4.68
-75.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$1.13€0.98
93.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
$19.34€16.86
-54.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$1.71€1.49
-19.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$36.5K€31.9K
-23.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$30.0K€26.2K
19.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Vilagarcia de Arousa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$154€134
15.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$16.88€14.71
-17.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$31.03€27.05
-4.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Vilagarcia de Arousa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
$28.96€25.25
54.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
$16.97€14.79
0.88%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$8.68€7.57
-23.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Vilagarcia de Arousa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$277€241
193.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$6,867€5,986
33.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Vilagarcia de Arousa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$74.9€65.3
19.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$31.87€27.78
85.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$76.3€66.5
81.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$133€116
-23.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Vilagarcia de Arousa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$548€477
93.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$348€303
90.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$818€713
130.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$526€458
95.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
$1,505€1,312
177.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$887€773
88.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Vilagarcia de Arousa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$2,334€2,035
-70.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
3.77
190.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Vilagarcia de Arousa: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $548 in Vilagarcia de Arousa. 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 244% higher in Vilagarcia de Arousa, 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $40.00 in Vilagarcia de Arousa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $223 – making Vilagarcia de Arousa 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 Vilagarcia de Arousa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vilagarcia de Arousa cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 44%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,755 in Vilagarcia de Arousa. 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 Vilagarcia de Arousa, 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 Vilagarcia de Arousa?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $40.00 in Vilagarcia de Arousa. 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 Vilagarcia de Arousa?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $1,170 in Vilagarcia de Arousa. 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 Vilagarcia de Arousa?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Vilagarcia de Arousa, where all-in costs run around $1,170, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Vilagarcia de Arousa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Vilagarcia de Arousa more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Vilagarcia de Arousa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Vilagarcia de Arousa?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Vilagarcia de Arousa. 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.