😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $752 in Villa Nueva, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,260 in Villa Nueva, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,768 in Villa Nueva, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 124% more than Villa Nueva, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Villa Nueva is 45% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Villa Nueva
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$8.61Q 65.6
-6.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$52.5Q 400
-8.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$8.79Q 67.0
12.51%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$4.12Q 31.38
-24.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$2.09Q 15.92
-8.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$1.41Q 10.72
7.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$3.95Q 30.09
-21.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$5.76Q 43.93
-0.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Villa Nueva
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$2.08Q 15.87
-30.77%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$3.77Q 28.73
-33.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$1.90Q 14.51
-6.84%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$2.43Q 18.55
21.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$5.62Q 42.81
79.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$3.31Q 25.22
205.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$10.46Q 79.8
36.71%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$4.77Q 36.35
-13.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$2.28Q 17.38
-29.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$5.15Q 39.24
-56.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$1.57Q 11.99
43.31%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$1.86Q 14.18
9.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$1.77Q 13.49
-12.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$1.29Q 9.79
-9.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$1.39Q 10.56
-5.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$4.00Q 30.47
-2.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$7.77Q 59.2
80.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$2.86Q 21.79
-39.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$3.58Q 27.26
-19.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Villa Nueva
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$4.67Q 35.62
-71.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$1.20Q 9.12
14.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$23.1KQ 175.7K
20.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$21.4KQ 162.8K
67.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Villa Nueva
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$58.4Q 445
203.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$38.14Q 291
-63.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$63.1Q 481
-52.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Villa Nueva
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$8.35Q 63.6
-20.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Villa Nueva
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$547Q 4,168
48.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$14.2KQ 108.1K
-35.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Villa Nueva
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$44.98Q 343
98.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$53.9Q 411
9.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$91.8Q 700
50.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$80.2Q 611
27.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Villa Nueva
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Villa Nueva
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Villa Nueva: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $53.0 in Villa Nueva. Groceries tell a different story – $305 in Medellin vs $275 in Villa Nueva – so Villa Nueva 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 Villa Nueva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Villa Nueva cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 124%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,128 in Villa Nueva. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Villa Nueva?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $53.0 in Villa Nueva. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Villa Nueva?
Groceries cost about 11% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Villa Nueva?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Villa Nueva, where all-in costs run around $752, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Villa Nueva it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Villa Nueva more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Villa Nueva – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Villa Nueva. 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.