Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Villarrica Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Villarrica

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $419 in Villarrica, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $637 in Villarrica, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $854 in Villarrica, rent included.

Medellin costs about 309% more than Villarrica, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Villarrica is 69% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Villarrica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03 COP 25.1K
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26 COP 150.8K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.77 COP 30.5K
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,095
$2.52 CLP 2,349
15.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 COP 6,074
$1.65 CLP 1,541
17.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 COP 4,754
$1.09 CLP 1,013
39.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 COP 9,663
$2.74 CLP 2,560
12.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 COP 17.9K
$4.80 CLP 4,482
19.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Villarrica
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,262
$1.29 CLP 1,205
5.43%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,460
$2.62 CLP 2,450
-8.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,314
$2.53 CLP 2,364
-32.81%
Eggs
$2.87 COP 8,967
$3.25 CLP 3,036
-11.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 COP 31.1K
$8.40 CLP 7,846
18.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.78 COP 33.7K
$11.32 CLP 10.6K
-4.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 COP 46.0K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 COP 12.8K
$2.61 CLP 2,433
56.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 COP 4,911
$1.92 CLP 1,790
-18.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 COP 6,642
$2.78 CLP 2,594
-23.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 COP 6,917
$1.48 CLP 1,382
49.32%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 COP 6,396
$1.48 CLP 1,381
38.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,700
$1.29 CLP 1,206
16.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 COP 3,718
$1.63 CLP 1,521
-26.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 COP 3,619
$2.00 CLP 1,865
-42.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$14.44 COP 45.1K
$5.68 CLP 5,304
154.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 4,948
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 8,836
$3.72 CLP 3,478
-23.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Villarrica
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,650
$1.89 CLP 1,760
-38.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.7 COP 242.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,014
$2.20 CLP 2,056
-41.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,537
$2.17 CLP 2,028
-3.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.62 COP 26.9K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,056
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K COP 86.4M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K COP 110.9M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Villarrica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 COP 550.1K
$64.1 CLP 59.8K
174.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 41.8K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89 COP 93.4K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Villarrica
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.76 COP 139.8K
$32.17 CLP 30.0K
39.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 COP 53.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 COP 19.4K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Villarrica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 COP 2.5M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,019 COP 28.2M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Villarrica
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 COP 267.5K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5 COP 182.7K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 COP 425.9K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 COP 322.2K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Villarrica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,060 COP 3.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 COP 2.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 COP 6.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 COP 3.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,111 COP 12.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,701 COP 5.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Villarrica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$665 COP 2.1M
$544 CLP 508.0K
22.27%
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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Villarrica: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 22% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Villarrica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Villarrica cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 309%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $2,574 per month in Medellin and $629 in Villarrica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Villarrica?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,716 in Medellin and $419 in Villarrica. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Villarrica?
Groceries cost about 25% 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 $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Villarrica?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Villarrica, where all-in costs run around $419, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Villarrica it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Villarrica more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Villarrica – 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 Villarrica. 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.

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