Cost of Living Comparison Between Vacoas and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Vacoas and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $756 per month in Vacoas vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,103 per month in Vacoas vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,450 per month in Vacoas vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Vacoas is about 54% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Vacoas sits 45% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.74 MUR 269

$8.04 COP 24.8K

-28.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.05 MUR 1,500

$48.29 COP 148.6K

-33.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.29 MUR 294

$9.42 COP 29.0K

-33.23%

Cappuccino

$2.72 MUR 127

$2.94 COP 9,040

-7.48%

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

$1.14 MUR 53.5

$1.86 COP 5,735

-38.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 MUR 28.50

$1.46 COP 4,479

-58.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.71 MUR 127

$3.21 COP 9,882

-15.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 MUR 174

$5.71 COP 17.6K

-35.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MUR 65.7

$1.44 COP 4,428

-2.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 MUR 32.68

$2.40 COP 7,389

-70.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 MUR 51.9

$1.70 COP 5,228

-34.71%

Eggs

$2.33 MUR 109

$2.89 COP 8,896

-19.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.62 MUR 123

$10.06 COP 30.9K

-73.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.53 MUR 118

$9.97 COP 30.7K

-74.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.25 MUR 526

$14.20 COP 43.7K

-20.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 MUR 120

$3.98 COP 12.3K

-35.43%

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 MUR 104

$1.58 COP 4,878

39.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.41 MUR 65.9

$2.15 COP 6,624

-34.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.05 MUR 143

$2.30 COP 7,078

32.61%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 MUR 43.68

$2.00 COP 6,169

-53.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 MUR 44.41

$1.51 COP 4,646

-37.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 MUR 34.36

$1.20 COP 3,701

-39.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 MUR 31.59

$1.28 COP 3,946

-46.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.51 MUR 305

$3.84 COP 11.8K

69.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.45 MUR 302

$14.01 COP 43.1K

-53.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 MUR 67.0

$1.71 COP 5,256

-16.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 MUR 112

$2.74 COP 8,440

-12.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.35 MUR 63.3

$1.25 COP 3,834

8.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 COP 239.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.37 MUR 204

$1.31 COP 4,016

233.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.24 MUR 152

$2.17 COP 6,680

49.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.14 MUR 194

$8.29 COP 25.5K

-50.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MUR 62.0

$1.36 COP 4,172

-2.94%

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

$29.3K MUR 1.4M

$27.5K COP 84.5M

6.59%

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

$30.7K MUR 1.4M

$36.5K COP 112.4M

-15.95%

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

$45.36 MUR 2,123

$169 COP 519.2K

-73.12%

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

$10.40 MUR 487

$13.57 COP 41.8K

-23.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.68 MUR 1,155

$28.32 COP 87.2K

-12.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.85 MUR 1,631

$45.71 COP 140.7K

-23.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 COP 53.0K

Cinema Ticket

$5.47 MUR 256

$6.65 COP 20.5K

-17.74%

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

$130 MUR 6,064

$803 COP 2.5M

-83.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,616 MUR 356.4K

$9,190 COP 28.3M

-17.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.01 MUR 1,498

$87.4 COP 268.8K

-63.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.73 MUR 1,813

$59.4 COP 182.7K

-34.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.4 MUR 2,921

$139 COP 427.5K

-55.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.55 MUR 2,226

$102 COP 314.0K

-53.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 MUR 12.4K

$1,071 COP 3.3M

-75.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$218 MUR 10.2K

$653 COP 2.0M

-66.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 MUR 22.7K

$1,925 COP 5.9M

-74.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$236 MUR 11.0K

$1,048 COP 3.2M

-77.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 COP 12.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$682 MUR 31.9K

$655 COP 2.0M

4.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

10.94

-39.03%

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

Last update for Vacoas: September 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $266 in Vacoas versus $1,071 in Medellin. 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 4% higher in Vacoas, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Vacoas versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $177 vs $300 – making Vacoas 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

Vacoas vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 117%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,134 per month in Vacoas and $2,462 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Vacoas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Vacoas and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 70% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Vacoas, where all-in costs run around $756, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Vacoas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Vacoas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Vacoas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.