Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Villavicencio Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Villavicencio

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $612 in Villavicencio, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,021 in Villavicencio, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,430 in Villavicencio, rent included.

Medellin costs about 68% more than Villavicencio, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Villavicencio are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Villavicencio 54% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$2.86 COP 9,298
115.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$21.52 COP 70.1K
51.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$6.16 COP 20.1K
19.16%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,600
$1.27 COP 4,136
35.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$0.82 COP 2,680
28.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$0.61 COP 1,992
26.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,488
$1.12 COP 3,631
50.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$1.66 COP 5,395
90.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$1.00 COP 3,247
5.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$1.20 COP 3,904
8.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$0.90 COP 2,935
55.56%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,047
$1.96 COP 6,374
10.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$4.81 COP 15.7K
-8.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$5.15 COP 16.8K
14.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$7.21 COP 23.5K
19.83%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,426
$2.49 COP 8,108
-8.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,604
$0.78 COP 2,554
42.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,983
$1.36 COP 4,434
12.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$1.24 COP 4,045
8.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$1.11 COP 3,606
1.80%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$1.14 COP 3,696
-0.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$0.72 COP 2,341
18.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$0.67 COP 2,174
35.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,630
$2.44 COP 7,930
-4.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$12.11 COP 39.4K
2.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$0.81 COP 2,651
48.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$1.60 COP 5,205
55.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,728
$0.62 COP 2,030
35.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$9.54 COP 31.0K
325.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$1.43 COP 4,649
-0.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$1.39 COP 4,518
38.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$6.09 COP 19.8K
25.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$1.02 COP 3,317
-2.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$12.1K COP 39.5M
48.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$17.0K COP 55.3M
56.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$31.70 COP 103.2K
154.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$11.00 COP 35.8K
-9.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$22.79 COP 74.2K
6.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.7K
$25.61 COP 83.4K
-2.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$16.87 COP 54.9K
13.52%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$3.79 COP 12.3K
5.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.5K
$240 COP 781.2K
27.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$8,420 COP 27.4M
-28.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$53.5 COP 174.1K
8.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$32.14 COP 104.6K
0.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$71.0 COP 231.0K
41.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$66.3 COP 215.9K
62.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$145 COP 473.1K
227.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$137 COP 444.5K
175.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$405 COP 1.3M
108.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$382 COP 1.2M
91.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$416 COP 1.4M
48.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
12.93
3.87%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Villavicencio: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $145 in Villavicencio. 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 48% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $22.00 in Villavicencio. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $172 – making Villavicencio 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 Villavicencio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Villavicencio cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 68%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $918 in Villavicencio. 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 Villavicencio, 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 Villavicencio?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $22.00 in Villavicencio. 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 Villavicencio?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $612 in Villavicencio. 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 Villavicencio?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Villavicencio, where all-in costs run around $612, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Villavicencio it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Villavicencio more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Villavicencio – 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 Villavicencio. 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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