😐A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $1,316 in Villavicencio, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $2,062 in Villavicencio, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $2,808 in Villavicencio, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 30% more than Villavicencio, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Villavicencio is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03COP 25.3K
$7.97COP 25.1K
0.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26COP 152.0K
$40.73COP 128.3K
18.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77COP 30.8K
$9.95COP 31.3K
-1.81%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,167
$2.53COP 7,961
15.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94COP 6,122
$1.34COP 4,206
44.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52COP 4,792
$0.87COP 2,755
74.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09COP 9,740
$1.88COP 5,924
64.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74COP 18.1K
$3.71COP 11.7K
54.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,296
$1.58COP 4,973
-13.92%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39COP 7,519
$2.39COP 7,539
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,356
$1.62COP 5,110
4.94%
Eggs
$2.87COP 9,038
$3.79COP 11.9K
-24.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94COP 31.3K
$7.30COP 23.0K
36.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.78COP 34.0K
$7.37COP 23.2K
46.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73COP 46.4K
$10.70COP 33.7K
37.66%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09COP 12.9K
$3.33COP 10.5K
22.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57COP 4,950
$1.73COP 5,442
-9.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13COP 6,695
$1.94COP 6,122
9.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21COP 6,972
$1.82COP 5,723
21.43%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05COP 6,447
$1.43COP 4,512
43.36%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50COP 4,737
$1.37COP 4,299
9.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19COP 3,747
$1.36COP 4,291
-12.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16COP 3,647
$1.09COP 3,443
6.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.3K
$4.41COP 13.9K
-11.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.44COP 45.5K
$12.92COP 40.7K
11.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58COP 4,987
$1.44COP 4,532
9.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83COP 8,905
$3.08COP 9,689
-8.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,679
$1.15COP 3,624
1.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.7COP 244.8K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28COP 4,045
$2.10COP 6,627
-39.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09COP 6,589
$2.49COP 7,843
-16.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.62COP 27.1K
$9.35COP 29.4K
-7.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30COP 4,088
$1.35COP 4,245
-3.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KCOP 87.1M
$22.0KCOP 69.4M
25.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KCOP 111.8M
$35.5KCOP 111.6M
0.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176COP 554.5K
$123COP 388.1K
42.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37COP 42.1K
$15.90COP 50.1K
-15.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89COP 94.1K
$30.72COP 96.8K
-2.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.76COP 141.0K
$31.78COP 100.1K
40.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06COP 53.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.20COP 19.5K
$7.69COP 24.2K
-19.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$793COP 2.5M
$473COP 1.5M
67.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,019COP 28.4M
$6,593COP 20.8M
36.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6COP 269.6K
$79.8COP 251.3K
7.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5COP 184.1K
$49.28COP 155.2K
18.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136COP 429.3K
$143COP 449.1K
-4.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103COP 324.7K
$112COP 353.2K
-8.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,060COP 3.3M
$710COP 2.2M
49.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680COP 2.1M
$479COP 1.5M
41.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012COP 6.3M
$1,156COP 3.6M
74.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,169COP 3.7M
$907COP 2.9M
28.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,111COP 12.9M
$2,053COP 6.5M
100.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,701COP 5.4M
$1,766COP 5.6M
-3.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Villavicencio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
12.81
-14.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Last update for Villavicencio: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $710 in Villavicencio. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $41.00 in Villavicencio. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $261 – 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 30%, 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 $2,574 per month in Medellin and $1,974 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 $48.00 in Medellin and $41.00 in Villavicencio. 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 Villavicencio?
Groceries cost about 16% 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 $1,000 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 $1,316, than in Medellin at $1,716. 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.