Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Vlore Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Vlore

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,141 in Vlore, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,671 in Vlore, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,200 in Vlore, rent included.

Medellin is about 12% cheaper than Vlore, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Vlore are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Vlore 14% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91 COP 18.6K
$9.37 ALL 761
-36.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 COP 103.8K
$37.70 ALL 3,063
-12.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 23.4K
$6.86 ALL 558
8.31%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,207
$1.86 ALL 151
-11.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,468
$1.64 ALL 133
-32.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,458
$0.87 ALL 70.9
-10.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,412
$2.43 ALL 197
-29.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$3.21 ALL 261
-0.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COP 3,474
$2.03 ALL 165
-45.81%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 3,962
$0.93 ALL 75.2
35.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,349
$1.97 ALL 160
-29.95%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 6,858
$2.91 ALL 237
-25.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 COP 14.1K
$9.60 ALL 780
-53.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.79 COP 18.2K
$7.68 ALL 624
-24.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 28.2K
$13.17 ALL 1,070
-31.89%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 COP 7,308
$1.83 ALL 148
26.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,352
$2.40 ALL 195
-55.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,774
$1.66 ALL 135
-8.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,270
$1.40 ALL 114
-2.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,552
$1.00 ALL 81.6
13.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,689
$1.23 ALL 99.9
-4.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,838
$1.15 ALL 93.7
-21.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,823
$0.72 ALL 58.7
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 COP 7,034
$4.17 ALL 339
-46.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 COP 38.2K
$10.19 ALL 828
18.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 3,743
$1.75 ALL 142
-32.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 7,815
$1.83 ALL 149
35.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 COP 2,687
$0.46 ALL 37.37
84.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.62 COP 131.0K
$23.85 ALL 1,938
74.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,459
$3.54 ALL 287
-59.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 6,141
$4.75 ALL 386
-58.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 24.8K
$17.94 ALL 1,457
-56.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,118
$2.16 ALL 176
-54.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 55.4M
$35.2K ALL 2.9M
-50.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 84.4M
$25.7K ALL 2.1M
4.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 261.4K
$67.1 ALL 5,452
23.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 COP 30.5K
$17.69 ALL 1,437
-45.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 COP 74.1K
$15.73 ALL 1,278
49.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.26 COP 79.5K
$56.5 ALL 4,591
-55.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 COP 60.1K
$27.40 ALL 2,226
-30.29%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 12.4K
$8.39 ALL 682
-52.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COP 994.2K
$94.7 ALL 7,696
233.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,975 COP 18.8M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 188.9K
$46.26 ALL 3,758
29.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 100.2K
$52.8 ALL 4,293
-39.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 320.1K
$95.4 ALL 7,747
6.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 338.3K
$141 ALL 11.5K
-23.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.5M
$482 ALL 39.2K
-1.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 COP 1.2M
$367 ALL 29.8K
1.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 COP 2.7M
$622 ALL 50.5K
36.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 COP 2.3M
$450 ALL 36.6K
59.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,265 COP 10.3M
$2,074 ALL 168.5K
57.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 COP 4.5M
$1,376 ALL 111.8K
4.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$624 COP 2.0M
$852 ALL 69.2K
-26.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
4
235.75%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Vlore: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $482 in Vlore. 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 36% higher in Vlore, 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 $38.00 in Vlore. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $244 – 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 – Vlore is pricier by about 14%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,712 in Vlore. 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 Medellin, 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 Vlore?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $38.00 in Vlore. 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 Vlore?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $1,141 in Vlore. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Vlore?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Vlore at $1,141. 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 – 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.

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