Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and VloreCost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Vlore
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $1,140 in Vlore, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,694 in Vlore, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $2,248 in Vlore, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 9% cheaper than Vlore, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Medellin and Vlore are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Vlore15% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$9.61ALL 785
-38.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$37.39ALL 3,053
-12.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$7.27ALL 593
-0.96%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$1.86ALL 152
-8.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$1.57ALL 128
-29.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$0.87ALL 71.0
-17.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$2.32ALL 189
-28.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$3.19ALL 261
-2.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$2.05ALL 167
-48.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$0.86ALL 70.2
45.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$2.03ALL 166
-31.53%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$3.01ALL 245
-24.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$10.08ALL 823
-57.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$7.65ALL 625
-23.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$13.14ALL 1,073
-32.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$1.85ALL 151
21.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$2.43ALL 199
-55.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$1.71ALL 140
-10.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$1.39ALL 113
-1.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$1.05ALL 85.6
7.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$1.23ALL 100
-8.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$1.10ALL 89.6
-22.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$0.72ALL 59.0
26.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$4.02ALL 328
-42.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
$10.03ALL 819
10.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$1.70ALL 139
-30.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$1.74ALL 142
36.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$0.49ALL 39.75
61.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
$23.89ALL 1,951
72.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$3.56ALL 291
-59.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$4.65ALL 379
-58.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$17.65ALL 1,441
-54.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$2.12ALL 173
-55.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$34.8KALL 2.8M
-48.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$25.2KALL 2.1M
6.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$68.3ALL 5,575
22.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$17.11ALL 1,397
-43.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$16.12ALL 1,316
49.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$55.9ALL 4,564
-53.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
$27.73ALL 2,264
-31.34%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$8.02ALL 655
-51.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$93.5ALL 7,636
227.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$47.33ALL 3,864
22.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$53.7ALL 4,381
-40.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$93.1ALL 7,604
7.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$139ALL 11.3K
-22.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$480ALL 39.2K
1.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$365ALL 29.8K
0.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$617ALL 50.3K
33.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$442ALL 36.1K
62.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
$2,111ALL 172.4K
38.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
$1,400ALL 114.3K
0.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Vlore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
$854ALL 69.8K
-36.14%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Vlore: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $480 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 57% 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 $37.00 in Vlore. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $245 – 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 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,710 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 Vlore?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $37.00 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 vs Vlore?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $1,140 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 Medellin or Vlore?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Vlore at $1,140. 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.