Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and VloreCost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Vlore
Monthly Cost of Living
πA single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $1,123 in Vlore, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,688 in Vlore, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $2,252 in Vlore, rent included.
πMedellin is about 9% cheaper than Vlore, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth Medellin and Vlore are more affordable than the global median β Medellin24% lower, Vlore16% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
$9.37ALLΒ 766
-36.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
$37.73ALLΒ 3,083
-11.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
$7.21ALLΒ 589
0.28%
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
$1.88ALLΒ 153
-13.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
$1.65ALLΒ 135
-33.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
$0.88ALLΒ 71.6
-17.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
$2.42ALLΒ 198
-28.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
$3.24ALLΒ 265
-0.31%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
$2.00ALLΒ 163
-47.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
$0.86ALLΒ 69.9
50.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
$2.04ALLΒ 167
-35.29%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
$2.89ALLΒ 236
-21.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
$10.10ALLΒ 825
-56.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
$7.73ALLΒ 632
-23.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
$13.08ALLΒ 1,069
-34.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
$1.88ALLΒ 153
19.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
$2.47ALLΒ 202
-56.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
$1.73ALLΒ 141
-12.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
$1.39ALLΒ 113
2.16%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
$1.06ALLΒ 86.5
10.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
$1.24ALLΒ 101
-5.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
$1.14ALLΒ 92.9
-21.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
$0.72ALLΒ 58.8
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
$4.15ALLΒ 339
-45.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
$9.89ALLΒ 808
11.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
$1.70ALLΒ 139
-32.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
$1.83ALLΒ 149
30.05%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
$0.48ALLΒ 39.61
75.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
$23.66ALLΒ 1,933
77.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
$3.55ALLΒ 290
-60.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
$4.65ALLΒ 380
-59.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
$17.58ALLΒ 1,436
-55.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
$2.19ALLΒ 179
-53.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
$34.0KALLΒ 2.8M
-48.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
$24.9KALLΒ 2.0M
6.40%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
$67.4ALLΒ 5,509
24.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
$17.58ALLΒ 1,437
-46.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
$15.63ALLΒ 1,277
54.25%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
$56.6ALLΒ 4,624
-55.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
$28.20ALLΒ 2,304
-32.13%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
$8.39ALLΒ 686
-51.13%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$92.8ALLΒ 7,580
236.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
-
-
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
$46.29ALLΒ 3,782
25.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
$52.1ALLΒ 4,257
-37.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
$94.5ALLΒ 7,718
5.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 378.8K
$144ALLΒ 11.8K
-24.55%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$483ALLΒ 39.5K
-0.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.3M
$372ALLΒ 30.4K
1.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 2.9M
$614ALLΒ 50.2K
36.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.5M
$450ALLΒ 36.7K
60.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
$2,062ALLΒ 168.5K
37.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
$1,380ALLΒ 112.8K
-11.39%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
$843ALLΒ 68.9K
-35.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4
235.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for Vlore: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $483 in Vlore. 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 56% higher in Vlore, 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 $38.00 in Vlore. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $245 β making Medellin 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 Vlore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vlore cheaper than Medellin?
Yes β Vlore is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,684 in Vlore. 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 Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Vlore?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $1,123 in Vlore. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Vlore?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Vlore at $1,123. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vlore it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Vlore more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vlore makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.