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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,641 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
$8.04 COP 25.1K
$19.07 ANG 34.04
-57.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29 COP 150.7K
$82.4 ANG 147
-41.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 COP 29.4K
$11.21 ANG 20.00
-15.97%
Cappuccino
$2.94 COP 9,169
$3.79 ANG 6.77
-22.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 COP 5,817
$3.10 ANG 5.53
-40.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 COP 4,543
$1.85 ANG 3.31
-21.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 COP 10.0K
$5.88 ANG 10.49
-45.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 COP 17.8K
$5.24 ANG 9.36
8.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,491
$1.93 ANG 3.45
-25.39%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 COP 7,494
$2.94 ANG 5.25
-18.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,302
$3.57 ANG 6.37
-52.38%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,022
$3.84 ANG 6.85
-24.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.06 COP 31.4K
$16.36 ANG 29.20
-38.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.97 COP 31.1K
$7.13 ANG 12.72
39.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.20 COP 44.3K
$11.89 ANG 21.23
19.43%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 COP 12.4K
$5.43 ANG 9.69
-26.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 COP 4,947
$3.05 ANG 5.45
-48.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 COP 6,718
$3.38 ANG 6.04
-36.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,178
$4.01 ANG 7.15
-42.64%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 COP 6,257
$2.55 ANG 4.55
-21.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,712
$1.96 ANG 3.50
-22.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 COP 3,754
$2.41 ANG 4.30
-50.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 COP 4,002
$2.79 ANG 4.98
-54.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84 COP 12.0K
$9.78 ANG 17.45
-60.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.7K
$12.12 ANG 21.63
15.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 COP 5,331
$2.41 ANG 4.30
-29.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 COP 8,560
$2.42 ANG 4.33
13.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 COP 3,888
$1.91 ANG 3.40
-34.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 COP 243.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,073
$22.42 ANG 40.02
-94.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.17 COP 6,775
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.29 COP 25.9K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,231
$1.32 ANG 2.36
3.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K COP 85.7M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K COP 114.0M
$20.7K ANG 36.9K
76.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 COP 526.6K
$274 ANG 489
-38.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 COP 42.4K
$77.3 ANG 138
-82.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32 COP 88.4K
$65.6 ANG 117
-56.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.71 COP 142.7K
$48.88 ANG 87.3
-6.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22 COP 53.8K
$44.85 ANG 80.1
-61.61%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.8K
$12.16 ANG 21.71
-45.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$803 COP 2.5M
$322 ANG 576
149.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,190 COP 28.7M
$12.3K ANG 22.0K
-25.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4 COP 272.7K
$102 ANG 181
-14.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4 COP 185.3K
$73.0 ANG 130
-18.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 433.6K
$163 ANG 291
-14.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 318.5K
$93.1 ANG 166
9.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,071 COP 3.3M
$810 ANG 1,446
32.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 COP 2.0M
$678 ANG 1,210
-3.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,925 COP 6.0M
$1,688 ANG 3,014
14.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 COP 3.3M
$1,212 ANG 2,163
-13.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,123 COP 12.9M
$832 ANG 1,485
395.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 COP 5.3M
$164 ANG 294
932.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Willemstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$655 COP 2.0M
$1,233 ANG 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.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities