😐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 City53% lower, Villavicencio54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tarlac City
Villavicencio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.64₱162
$2.86COP 9,298
-7.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.13₱932
$21.52COP 70.1K
-29.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.65₱224
$6.16COP 20.1K
-40.75%
Cappuccino
$1.63₱100
$1.27COP 4,136
28.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88₱54.0
$0.82COP 2,680
7.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26₱15.87
$0.61COP 1,992
-57.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.96₱59.1
$1.12COP 3,631
-14.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76₱108
$1.66COP 5,395
6.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tarlac City
Villavicencio
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63₱101
$1.00COP 3,247
63.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47₱90.4
$1.20COP 3,904
22.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.99₱60.9
$0.90COP 2,935
10.00%
Eggs
$2.05₱126
$1.96COP 6,374
4.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.11₱561
$4.81COP 15.7K
89.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.23₱199
$5.15COP 16.8K
-37.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.14₱378
$7.21COP 23.5K
-14.84%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90₱179
$2.49COP 8,108
16.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61₱99.0
$0.78COP 2,554
106.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10₱129
$1.36COP 4,434
54.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52₱93.9
$1.24COP 4,045
22.58%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37₱84.2
$1.11COP 3,606
23.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13₱69.3
$1.14COP 3,696
-0.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92₱56.7
$0.72COP 2,341
27.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88₱54.3
$0.67COP 2,174
31.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87₱176
$2.44COP 7,930
17.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.88₱239
$12.11COP 39.4K
-67.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.77₱47.16
$0.81COP 2,651
-4.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52₱93.6
$1.60COP 5,205
-5.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Tarlac City
Villavicencio
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26₱15.85
$0.62COP 2,030
-58.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.14₱501
$9.54COP 31.0K
-14.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79₱48.57
$1.43COP 4,649
-44.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.24₱14.80
$1.39COP 4,518
-82.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.11₱130
$6.09COP 19.8K
-65.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17₱72.1
$1.02COP 3,317
14.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K₱1.8M
$12.1KCOP 39.5M
137.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.5K₱1.2M
$17.0KCOP 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
$31.70COP 103.2K
214.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.93₱981
$11.00COP 35.8K
44.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.64₱1,640
$22.79COP 74.2K
16.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tarlac City
Villavicencio
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.72₱2,753
$25.61COP 83.4K
74.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.70₱1,090
$16.87COP 54.9K
4.92%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28₱387
$3.79COP 12.3K
65.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tarlac City
Villavicencio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$170₱10.4K
$240COP 781.2K
-29.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.4K₱884.1K
$8,420COP 27.4M
70.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tarlac City
Villavicencio
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.07₱2,775
$53.5COP 174.1K
-15.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21₱1,614
$32.14COP 104.6K
-18.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$51.8₱3,188
$71.0COP 231.0K
-27.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$37.47₱2,307
$66.3COP 215.9K
-43.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tarlac City
Villavicencio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$128₱7,881
$145COP 473.1K
-11.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$100₱6,170
$137COP 444.5K
-26.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$262₱16.1K
$405COP 1.3M
-35.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$174₱10.7K
$382COP 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
$416COP 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.
Tarlac City vs other spots: cost of living compared