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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $737 per month in Vacoas vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,124 per month in Vacoas vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,511 per month in Vacoas vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Vacoas is about 27% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Vacoas and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Vacoas 45% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.45 MUR 305

$5.99 COP 21.4K

7.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.98 MUR 1,560

$32.86 COP 117.2K

0.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.94 MUR 234

$7.09 COP 25.3K

-30.32%

Cappuccino

$2.57 MUR 122

$1.71 COP 6,105

50.29%

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

$0.96 MUR 45.29

$1.10 COP 3,918

-12.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 MUR 26.64

$0.78 COP 2,776

-28.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 MUR 103

$1.68 COP 5,987

29.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 MUR 94.9

$3.07 COP 10.9K

-34.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 MUR 60.4

$1.09 COP 3,899

17.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 MUR 33.75

$1.26 COP 4,500

-43.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 MUR 60.9

$1.38 COP 4,914

-6.52%

Eggs

$2.18 MUR 103

$2.19 COP 7,813

-0.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.67 MUR 126

$4.40 COP 15.7K

-39.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 MUR 142

$5.63 COP 20.1K

-46.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.52 MUR 261

$8.89 COP 31.7K

-37.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.99 MUR 94.0

$2.34 COP 8,334

-14.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 MUR 96.3

$1.06 COP 3,771

91.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 MUR 68.0

$1.50 COP 5,365

-4.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.74 MUR 130

$1.38 COP 4,915

98.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 MUR 48.50

$1.15 COP 4,104

-10.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 MUR 48.01

$1.16 COP 4,148

-12.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 MUR 37.31

$0.89 COP 3,176

-11.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 MUR 33.55

$0.84 COP 2,992

-15.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.67 MUR 268

$2.28 COP 8,131

148.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.31 MUR 299

$10.64 COP 37.9K

-40.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 MUR 68.0

$1.20 COP 4,276

20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 MUR 103

$2.47 COP 8,809

-11.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 MUR 47.96

$0.86 COP 3,051

17.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 MUR 212

$1.47 COP 5,255

204.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.63 MUR 124

$1.96 COP 6,997

34.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.32 MUR 204

$7.74 COP 27.6K

-44.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 MUR 66.9

$0.95 COP 3,403

48.42%

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

$26.7K MUR 1.3M

$18.1K COP 64.6M

47.02%

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

$29.2K MUR 1.4M

$26.5K COP 94.4M

10.31%

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

$49.62 MUR 2,348

$82.3 COP 293.2K

-39.67%

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

$10.89 MUR 515

$9.50 COP 33.9K

14.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.99 MUR 1,230

$24.23 COP 86.4K

7.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.80 MUR 1,268

$25.89 COP 92.3K

3.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

Cinema Ticket

$5.49 MUR 260

$3.93 COP 14.0K

39.69%

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

$155 MUR 7,353

$309 COP 1.1M

-49.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,977 MUR 188.2K

$5,965 COP 21.3M

-33.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.28 MUR 1,386

$58.7 COP 209.1K

-50.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.55 MUR 1,399

$32.35 COP 115.3K

-8.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.7 MUR 3,108

$103 COP 365.7K

-35.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.8 MUR 2,830

$108 COP 386.5K

-44.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 MUR 12.6K

$476 COP 1.7M

-44.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 MUR 11.2K

$379 COP 1.4M

-37.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 MUR 23.9K

$838 COP 3.0M

-39.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 MUR 15.2K

$724 COP 2.6M

-55.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$700 MUR 33.1K

$512 COP 1.8M

36.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.25

13.43

-68.35%

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

Last update for Vacoas: June 2, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $266 in Vacoas versus $476 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 37% 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 $33.00 in Vacoas versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $156 vs $188 – 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 37%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,106 per month in Vacoas and $1,519 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 $33.00 in Vacoas and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% 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 $737, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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.