Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Willemstad Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Willemstad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,825 in Willemstad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $2,920 in Willemstad, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $4,015 in Willemstad, rent included.

Medellin is about 44% cheaper than Willemstad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Willemstad is 37% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$18.32 ANG 32.71
-66.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$70.9 ANG 127
-54.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$8.53 ANG 15.22
-13.95%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$3.50 ANG 6.25
-50.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$2.91 ANG 5.19
-63.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$1.43 ANG 2.55
-46.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$5.63 ANG 10.05
-69.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$4.79 ANG 8.54
-33.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$1.72 ANG 3.06
-38.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$2.35 ANG 4.20
-44.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$2.72 ANG 4.85
-48.53%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$3.60 ANG 6.42
-40.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$9.68 ANG 17.28
-54.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$7.67 ANG 13.70
-23.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$9.44 ANG 16.84
-8.47%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$5.02 ANG 8.97
-54.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$3.37 ANG 6.02
-67.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$3.11 ANG 5.55
-50.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$4.37 ANG 7.80
-69.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$3.01 ANG 5.38
-62.46%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$2.86 ANG 5.10
-60.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$2.19 ANG 3.91
-61.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$2.11 ANG 3.78
-56.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$8.30 ANG 14.81
-71.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$12.28 ANG 21.91
0.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$2.56 ANG 4.58
-53.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$3.29 ANG 5.87
-24.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$1.71 ANG 3.06
-50.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$25.60 ANG 45.70
-94.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$2.59 ANG 4.63
-25.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$50.3 ANG 89.8
-84.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$1.27 ANG 2.27
-22.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$19.7K ANG 35.1K
35.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$238 ANG 425
-66.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$82.1 ANG 147
-87.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$62.2 ANG 111
-61.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$55.7 ANG 99.4
-54.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$63.1 ANG 113
-69.64%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$9.66 ANG 17.25
-58.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$228 ANG 408
33.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$9,378 ANG 16.7K
-35.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$89.8 ANG 160
-35.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$89.2 ANG 159
-63.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$142 ANG 253
-28.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$109 ANG 195
-1.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$724 ANG 1,293
-34.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$546 ANG 974
-31.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$1,725 ANG 3,079
-51.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$1,172 ANG 2,092
-37.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$841 ANG 1,501
282.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$169 ANG 302
710.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$1,278 ANG 2,282
-51.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
4.97
170.22%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Willemstad: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $724 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 107% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $71.0 in Willemstad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $334 – 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 77%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $2,738 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 $33.00 in Medellin and $71.0 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 73% 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 $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Willemstad?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Willemstad at $1,825. 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.

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