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: $621 in Tarlac City versus $608 in Villavicencio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $954 in Tarlac City versus $1,034 in Villavicencio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,286 in Tarlac City versus $1,459 in Villavicencio.

Living in Tarlac City is roughly 2% more expensive than Villavicencio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tarlac City 54% lower, Villavicencio 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.70 ₱166

$2.94 COP 10.5K

-8.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.96 ₱922

$21.86 COP 78.1K

-31.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.51 ₱216

$5.95 COP 21.2K

-41.01%

Cappuccino

$1.57 ₱96.7

$1.22 COP 4,373

28.69%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 ₱53.4

$0.82 COP 2,940

6.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 ₱15.95

$0.58 COP 2,054

-55.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 ₱60.8

$1.06 COP 3,795

-6.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 ₱106

$1.68 COP 5,984

2.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ₱103

$1.01 COP 3,624

64.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 ₱95.3

$1.21 COP 4,304

27.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱60.7

$0.91 COP 3,262

7.69%

Eggs

$2.02 ₱124

$1.98 COP 7,081

2.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.07 ₱560

$4.79 COP 17.1K

89.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.21 ₱198

$5.02 COP 17.9K

-36.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.91 ₱365

$7.29 COP 26.0K

-18.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 ₱178

$2.46 COP 8,793

17.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ₱99.6

$0.80 COP 2,853

102.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 ₱132

$1.31 COP 4,695

64.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ₱94.0

$1.28 COP 4,576

18.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.45 ₱89.2

$1.11 COP 3,978

30.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 ₱72.9

$1.12 COP 3,988

5.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₱56.9

$0.70 COP 2,490

31.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ₱55.4

$0.68 COP 2,425

32.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.78 ₱171

$2.41 COP 8,601

15.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.76 ₱232

$10.64 COP 38.0K

-64.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱50.9

$0.88 COP 3,126

-5.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ₱96.5

$1.57 COP 5,603

-0.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.30

$0.62 COP 2,217

-54.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.93 ₱489

$9.40 COP 33.6K

-15.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₱51.7

$1.44 COP 5,141

-41.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.50

$1.37 COP 4,909

-83.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 ₱130

$6.21 COP 22.2K

-66.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.0

$0.98 COP 3,515

17.35%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.6K ₱1.8M

$12.3K COP 43.9M

133.04%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$16.8K COP 60.1M

17.06%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$101 ₱6,199

$32.67 COP 116.7K

207.71%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.85 ₱977

$10.93 COP 39.0K

45.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.78 ₱1,651

$23.09 COP 82.5K

15.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.51 ₱2,745

$24.95 COP 89.1K

78.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.48 ₱1,078

$17.21 COP 61.5K

1.57%

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 ₱387

$3.64 COP 13.0K

72.25%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$170 ₱10.5K

$242 COP 862.9K

-29.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.0K ₱866.1K

$8,460 COP 30.2M

66.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.32 ₱2,856

$55.2 COP 197.0K

-16.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.53 ₱1,636

$32.12 COP 114.7K

-17.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.4 ₱3,109

$71.0 COP 253.6K

-29.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.32 ₱2,301

$67.1 COP 239.7K

-44.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$131 ₱8,057

$148 COP 527.2K

-11.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$103 ₱6,333

$139 COP 495.0K

-25.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$268 ₱16.5K

$412 COP 1.5M

-34.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 ₱10.9K

$382 COP 1.4M

-53.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$372 ₱23.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$294 ₱18.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$212 ₱13.1K

$378 COP 1.3M

-43.88%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Villavicencio: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $131 in Tarlac City and $148 in Villavicencio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Villavicencio pays 78% 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 $169, 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

Villavicencio wins on cost – living expenses run 2% 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.

On paper, Villavicencio earns 78% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $131 in Tarlac City versus $148 in Villavicencio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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.

All in, you'll spend $621 per month in Tarlac City versus $608 in Villavicencio – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Villavicencio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Tarlac City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.