πA single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $608 in Villavicencio, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,034 in Villavicencio, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,459 in Villavicencio, rent included.
πMedellin costs about 67% more than Villavicencio, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth Medellin and Villavicencio are more affordable than the global median β Medellin24% lower, Villavicencio55% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$2.94COPΒ 10.5K
103.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.4K
$21.86COPΒ 78.1K
50.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$5.95COPΒ 21.2K
19.16%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,115
$1.22COPΒ 4,373
40.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,924
$0.82COPΒ 2,940
34.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,781
$0.58COPΒ 2,054
34.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,997
$1.06COPΒ 3,795
58.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
$1.68COPΒ 5,984
82.74%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,906
$1.01COPΒ 3,624
7.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,508
$1.21COPΒ 4,304
4.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,922
$0.91COPΒ 3,262
51.65%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,827
$1.98COPΒ 7,081
10.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$4.79COPΒ 17.1K
-8.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
$5.02COPΒ 17.9K
12.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.8K
$7.29COPΒ 26.0K
21.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,349
$2.46COPΒ 8,793
-4.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,777
$0.80COPΒ 2,853
32.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,374
$1.31COPΒ 4,695
14.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,924
$1.28COPΒ 4,576
7.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,111
$1.11COPΒ 3,978
3.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,155
$1.12COPΒ 3,988
3.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,182
$0.70COPΒ 2,490
27.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,997
$0.68COPΒ 2,425
23.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,145
$2.41COPΒ 8,601
-5.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 38.0K
$10.64COPΒ 38.0K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,284
$0.88COPΒ 3,126
36.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,824
$1.57COPΒ 5,603
57.32%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,056
$0.62COPΒ 2,217
38.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.9K
$9.40COPΒ 33.6K
340.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,264
$1.44COPΒ 5,141
2.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 7,009
$1.37COPΒ 4,909
43.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
$6.21COPΒ 22.2K
24.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,409
$0.98COPΒ 3,515
-3.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.7M
$12.3KCOPΒ 43.9M
47.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.6M
$16.8KCOPΒ 60.1M
57.37%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.7K
$32.67COPΒ 116.7K
151.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
$10.93COPΒ 39.0K
-13.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.5K
$23.09COPΒ 82.5K
4.94%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.4K
$24.95COPΒ 89.1K
3.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.9K
$17.21COPΒ 61.5K
10.40%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$3.64COPΒ 13.0K
7.97%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$242COPΒ 862.9K
28.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
$8,460COPΒ 30.2M
-29.49%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.5K
$55.2COPΒ 197.0K
6.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.5K
$32.12COPΒ 114.7K
0.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 366.4K
$71.0COPΒ 253.6K
44.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 387.2K
$67.1COPΒ 239.7K
61.52%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$148COPΒ 527.2K
222.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$139COPΒ 495.0K
173.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$412COPΒ 1.5M
103.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$382COPΒ 1.4M
89.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
$378COPΒ 1.3M
35.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
12.93
3.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Villavicencio: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $148 in Villavicencio. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 35% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $22.00 in Villavicencio. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $169 β 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 β Medellin is pricier by about 67%, 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $912 in Villavicencio. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β 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 Villavicencio?
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Villavicencio?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $608 in Villavicencio. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Medellin or Villavicencio?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Villavicencio, where all-in costs run around $608, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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 β 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.