🙂A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $2,098 in Willemstad, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $3,204 in Willemstad, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $4,310 in Willemstad, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 22% cheaper than Willemstad, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Willemstad sit above the global median – Medellin by 19%, Willemstad by 52%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 25.1K
$19.07ANG 34.04
-57.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 150.7K
$82.4ANG 147
-41.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.4K
$11.21ANG 20.00
-15.97%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,169
$3.79ANG 6.77
-22.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,817
$3.10ANG 5.53
-40.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,543
$1.85ANG 3.31
-21.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 10.0K
$5.88ANG 10.49
-45.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.8K
$5.24ANG 9.36
8.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,491
$1.93ANG 3.45
-25.39%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,494
$2.94ANG 5.25
-18.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,302
$3.57ANG 6.37
-52.38%
Eggs
$2.89COP 9,022
$3.84ANG 6.85
-24.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 31.4K
$16.36ANG 29.20
-38.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 31.1K
$7.13ANG 12.72
39.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 44.3K
$11.89ANG 21.23
19.43%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.4K
$5.43ANG 9.69
-26.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,947
$3.05ANG 5.45
-48.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,718
$3.38ANG 6.04
-36.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,178
$4.01ANG 7.15
-42.64%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,257
$2.55ANG 4.55
-21.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,712
$1.96ANG 3.50
-22.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,754
$2.41ANG 4.30
-50.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 4,002
$2.79ANG 4.98
-54.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 12.0K
$9.78ANG 17.45
-60.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$12.12ANG 21.63
15.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,331
$2.41ANG 4.30
-29.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,560
$2.42ANG 4.33
13.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,888
$1.91ANG 3.40
-34.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 243.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,073
$22.42ANG 40.02
-94.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,775
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.9K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,231
$1.32ANG 2.36
3.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 85.7M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 114.0M
$20.7KANG 36.9K
76.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 526.6K
$274ANG 489
-38.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 42.4K
$77.3ANG 138
-82.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 88.4K
$65.6ANG 117
-56.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 142.7K
$48.88ANG 87.3
-6.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.8K
$44.85ANG 80.1
-61.61%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.8K
$12.16ANG 21.71
-45.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$322ANG 576
149.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.7M
$12.3KANG 22.0K
-25.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 272.7K
$102ANG 181
-14.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 185.3K
$73.0ANG 130
-18.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 433.6K
$163ANG 291
-14.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.5K
$93.1ANG 166
9.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$810ANG 1,446
32.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$678ANG 1,210
-3.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 6.0M
$1,688ANG 3,014
14.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.3M
$1,212ANG 2,163
-13.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.9M
$832ANG 1,485
395.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.3M
$164ANG 294
932.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$1,233ANG 2,200
-46.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
4.97
120.12%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Willemstad: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $810 in Willemstad. 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 88% higher in Willemstad, 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $82.0 in Willemstad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $374 – 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 Willemstad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Willemstad cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Willemstad is pricier by about 28%, 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 $2,462 per month in Medellin and $3,147 in Willemstad. 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 Willemstad?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $82.0 in Willemstad. 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 Willemstad?
Groceries cost about 24% more in Willemstad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Willemstad?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Willemstad at $2,098. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Willemstad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Willemstad 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 safer, Medellin or Willemstad?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
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, Willemstad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.