Cost of Living Comparison Between Tarlac City and Villavicencio Cost of Living Comparison Between Tarlac City and Villavicencio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $631 in Tarlac City versus $612 in Villavicencio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $948 in Tarlac City versus $1,021 in Villavicencio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,266 in Tarlac City versus $1,430 in Villavicencio.

Living in Tarlac City is roughly 3% more expensive than in Villavicencio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tarlac City 53% lower, Villavicencio 54% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tarlac City
Villavicencio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.64 ₱162
$2.86 COP 9,298
-7.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.13 ₱932
$21.52 COP 70.1K
-29.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.65 ₱224
$6.16 COP 20.1K
-40.75%
Cappuccino
$1.63 ₱100
$1.27 COP 4,136
28.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ₱54.0
$0.82 COP 2,680
7.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 ₱15.87
$0.61 COP 1,992
-57.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.96 ₱59.1
$1.12 COP 3,631
-14.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 ₱108
$1.66 COP 5,395
6.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tarlac City
Villavicencio
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 ₱101
$1.00 COP 3,247
63.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ₱90.4
$1.20 COP 3,904
22.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 ₱60.9
$0.90 COP 2,935
10.00%
Eggs
$2.05 ₱126
$1.96 COP 6,374
4.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.11 ₱561
$4.81 COP 15.7K
89.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.23 ₱199
$5.15 COP 16.8K
-37.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.14 ₱378
$7.21 COP 23.5K
-14.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 ₱179
$2.49 COP 8,108
16.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₱99.0
$0.78 COP 2,554
106.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 ₱129
$1.36 COP 4,434
54.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ₱93.9
$1.24 COP 4,045
22.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.37 ₱84.2
$1.11 COP 3,606
23.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 ₱69.3
$1.14 COP 3,696
-0.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 ₱56.7
$0.72 COP 2,341
27.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 ₱54.3
$0.67 COP 2,174
31.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ₱176
$2.44 COP 7,930
17.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.88 ₱239
$12.11 COP 39.4K
-67.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₱47.16
$0.81 COP 2,651
-4.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₱93.6
$1.60 COP 5,205
-5.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Tarlac City
Villavicencio
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₱15.85
$0.62 COP 2,030
-58.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.14 ₱501
$9.54 COP 31.0K
-14.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.79 ₱48.57
$1.43 COP 4,649
-44.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.24 ₱14.80
$1.39 COP 4,518
-82.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.11 ₱130
$6.09 COP 19.8K
-65.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 ₱72.1
$1.02 COP 3,317
14.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K ₱1.8M
$12.1K COP 39.5M
137.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.5K ₱1.2M
$17.0K COP 55.3M
14.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tarlac City
Villavicencio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.5 ₱6,128
$31.70 COP 103.2K
214.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.93 ₱981
$11.00 COP 35.8K
44.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.64 ₱1,640
$22.79 COP 74.2K
16.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tarlac City
Villavicencio
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.72 ₱2,753
$25.61 COP 83.4K
74.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.70 ₱1,090
$16.87 COP 54.9K
4.92%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 ₱387
$3.79 COP 12.3K
65.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tarlac City
Villavicencio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$170 ₱10.4K
$240 COP 781.2K
-29.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ₱884.1K
$8,420 COP 27.4M
70.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tarlac City
Villavicencio
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.07 ₱2,775
$53.5 COP 174.1K
-15.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21 ₱1,614
$32.14 COP 104.6K
-18.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$51.8 ₱3,188
$71.0 COP 231.0K
-27.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$37.47 ₱2,307
$66.3 COP 215.9K
-43.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tarlac City
Villavicencio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$128 ₱7,881
$145 COP 473.1K
-11.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$100 ₱6,170
$137 COP 444.5K
-26.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$262 ₱16.1K
$405 COP 1.3M
-35.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$174 ₱10.7K
$382 COP 1.2M
-54.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$375 ₱23.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$305 ₱18.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tarlac City
Villavicencio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$213 ₱13.1K
$416 COP 1.4M
-48.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.17
12.93
-52.28%

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

Last update for Tarlac City: July 13, 2026

Last update for Villavicencio: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $128 in Tarlac City and $145 in Villavicencio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Villavicencio pays 96% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $15.00 in Tarlac City vs $22.00 in Villavicencio. Groceries flip the comparison at $181 vs $172, with Villavicencio cheaper for home cooking.

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
Tarlac City vs Villavicencio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tarlac City or Villavicencio?
Villavicencio wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Tarlac City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Villavicencio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tarlac City or in Villavicencio?
On paper, salaries run 96% lower in Villavicencio. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tarlac City compared to Villavicencio?
Rent for a central apartment: $128 in Tarlac City versus $145 in Villavicencio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Tarlac City and in Villavicencio?
Dining out is cheaper in Villavicencio – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $15.00 in Tarlac City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Tarlac City compared to Villavicencio?
All in, you'll spend $631 per month in Tarlac City versus $612 in Villavicencio – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $800/month in Tarlac City or in Villavicencio?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Villavicencio gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Tarlac City or Villavicencio?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Tarlac City compared to Villavicencio?
Safety-wise, Tarlac City and Villavicencio are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Villavicencio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Tarlac City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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