Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Williams Lake, BC Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Williams Lake, BC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,030 per month in Medellin vs $2,072 in Williams Lake, BC, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $3,029 in Williams Lake, BC, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $3,986 in Williams Lake, BC, rent included.

Medellin is about 50% cheaper than Williams Lake, BC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Williams Lake, BC is 55% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Williams Lake, BC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COPΒ 21.3K
$16.81 CA$23.02
-64.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COPΒ 119.5K
$70.7 CA$96.9
-53.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.25 COPΒ 26.1K
$11.22 CA$15.37
-35.38%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COPΒ 6,176
$3.71 CA$5.08
-53.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,940
$2.05 CA$2.81
-46.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COPΒ 2,760
$1.71 CA$2.35
-54.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.75 COPΒ 6,294
$5.48 CA$7.51
-68.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COPΒ 11.5K
$5.97 CA$8.18
-46.73%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Williams Lake, BC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,816
$2.46 CA$3.37
-56.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COPΒ 4,687
$2.74 CA$3.75
-52.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,958
$3.52 CA$4.82
-60.80%
Eggs
$2.21 COPΒ 7,958
$5.59 CA$7.66
-60.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.52 COPΒ 16.3K
$11.03 CA$15.11
-59.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COPΒ 20.9K
$11.63 CA$15.93
-50.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COPΒ 32.3K
$14.90 CA$20.41
-39.80%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 COPΒ 8,235
$3.97 CA$5.44
-42.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,815
$1.42 CA$1.95
-25.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COPΒ 5,446
$3.69 CA$5.05
-59.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COPΒ 4,900
$3.66 CA$5.01
-62.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.16 COPΒ 4,172
$2.48 CA$3.40
-53.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COPΒ 4,201
$2.47 CA$3.39
-52.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.83 COPΒ 2,979
$2.51 CA$3.44
-66.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 COPΒ 3,063
$1.70 CA$2.33
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COPΒ 8,477
$13.75 CA$18.83
-82.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.09 COPΒ 39.9K
$11.25 CA$15.41
-1.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 COPΒ 4,159
$2.91 CA$3.99
-60.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COPΒ 8,910
$3.05 CA$4.19
-19.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Williams Lake, BC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COPΒ 2,845
$2.43 CA$3.33
-67.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.85 COPΒ 150.7K
$63.6 CA$87.1
-34.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COPΒ 5,173
$3.21 CA$4.40
-55.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 COPΒ 6,836
$1.43 CA$1.95
32.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.70 COPΒ 27.7K
$25.34 CA$34.72
-69.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 COPΒ 3,704
$1.21 CA$1.65
-14.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7K COPΒ 63.7M
$24.5K CA$33.6K
-27.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K COPΒ 97.3M
$20.3K CA$27.9K
32.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Williams Lake, BC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.4 COPΒ 293.2K
$140 CA$192
-41.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42 COPΒ 33.9K
$33.18 CA$45.45
-71.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.77 COPΒ 85.6K
$86.1 CA$118
-72.40%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Williams Lake, BC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.86 COPΒ 93.2K
$41.92 CA$57.4
-38.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.34 COPΒ 69.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.05 COPΒ 14.6K
$11.38 CA$15.59
-64.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Williams Lake, BC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$312 COPΒ 1.1M
$733 CA$1,004
-57.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,067 COPΒ 21.9M
$12.0K CA$16.4K
-49.46%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Williams Lake, BC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9 COPΒ 212.0K
$53.9 CA$73.9
9.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.82 COPΒ 118.2K
$39.73 CA$54.4
-17.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 COPΒ 361.9K
$87.2 CA$119
15.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COPΒ 382.8K
$105 CA$144
1.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Williams Lake, BC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 COPΒ 1.8M
$963 CA$1,319
-49.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COPΒ 1.3M
$915 CA$1,253
-59.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COPΒ 3.0M
$1,373 CA$1,881
-38.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$715 COPΒ 2.6M
$1,310 CA$1,795
-45.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,952 COPΒ 10.6M
$4,983 CA$6,827
-40.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,394 COPΒ 5.0M
$3,867 CA$5,298
-63.96%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Williams Lake, BC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$532 COPΒ 1.9M
$3,261 CA$4,468
-83.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.46
107.89%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026

Last update for Williams Lake, BC: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Medellin versus $963 in Williams Lake, BC. 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 513% higher in Williams Lake, BC, 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 in Medellin versus $71 in Williams Lake, BC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $372 – 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 Williams Lake, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Williams Lake, BC cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Williams Lake, BC is pricier by about 101%, 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 $1,544 per month in Medellin and $3,108 in Williams Lake, BC. 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 Williams Lake, BC?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $71.0 in Williams Lake, BC. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafΓ© pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Williams Lake, BC?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,030 in Medellin and $2,072 in Williams Lake, BC. 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 Williams Lake, BC?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,030, than in Williams Lake, BC at $2,072. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Williams Lake, BC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Williams Lake, BC 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, Williams Lake, BC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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