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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $681 in Villarrica, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $855 in Villarrica, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,030 in Villarrica, rent included.

Medellin costs about 49% more than Villarrica, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Villarrica are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Villarrica 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$3.79 ₲23.1K

58.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.2K

$15.04 ₲91.6K

118.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$4.53 ₲27.6K

56.51%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,105

$1.23 ₲7,524

39.02%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,918

$0.61 ₲3,695

80.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,776

$0.40 ₲2,431

95.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,987

$1.05 ₲6,372

60.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$0.93 ₲5,664

230.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,899

$0.91 ₲5,550

19.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,500

$0.81 ₲4,954

55.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,914

$0.91 ₲5,528

51.65%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,813

$1.65 ₲10.0K

32.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$5.55 ₲33.8K

-20.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$2.97 ₲18.1K

89.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.7K

$6.35 ₲38.7K

40.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,334

$1.96 ₲12.0K

19.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,771

$0.78 ₲4,765

35.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,365

$0.64 ₲3,902

134.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,915

$1.65 ₲10.1K

-16.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,104

$1.02 ₲6,227

12.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,148

$0.62 ₲3,793

87.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,176

$0.55 ₲3,357

61.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,992

$0.53 ₲3,226

58.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,131

$0.84 ₲5,110

171.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$8.48 ₲51.7K

25.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,276

$0.50 ₲3,068

140.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

$1.35 ₲8,206

82.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,255

$0.60 ₲3,672

145.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,997

$0.79 ₲4,810

148.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$3.79 ₲23.1K

104.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,403

$0.89 ₲5,404

6.74%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.1K COP 64.6M

$14.8K ₲90.4M

22.22%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K COP 94.4M

$24.1K ₲147.0M

9.77%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.3 COP 293.2K

$22.93 ₲139.8K

258.70%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$13.68 ₲83.4K

-30.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.4K

$14.91 ₲90.9K

62.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

$24.92 ₲151.9K

3.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

$2.54 ₲15.5K

648.03%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$4.93 ₲30.1K

-20.28%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$309 COP 1.1M

$31.72 ₲193.3K

875.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$3,230 ₲19.7M

84.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.1K

$49.25 ₲300.2K

19.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.3K

$30.91 ₲188.4K

4.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.7K

$73.4 ₲447.5K

39.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 386.5K

$51.3 ₲312.4K

111.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$287 ₲1.8M

31.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$187 ₲1.1M

349.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$149 ₲910.9K

384.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$541 ₲3.3M

-5.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

10.17

32.06%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Villarrica: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 6% higher in Villarrica, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $15.00 in Villarrica. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $138 – making Villarrica 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 Villarrica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 49%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,022 in Villarrica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $15.00 in Villarrica. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 36% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Villarrica, where all-in costs run around $681, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Villarrica it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

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.