Cost of Living Comparison Between Vaughan and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Vaughan and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,570 per month in Vaughan vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,765 per month in Vaughan vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,960 per month in Vaughan vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Vaughan costs about 149% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Vaughan sits 92% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vaughan
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.98 CA$21.08
$6.16 COP 20.1K
143.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.2 CA$109
$32.60 COP 106.1K
136.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.13 CA$14.25
$7.34 COP 23.9K
38.01%
Cappuccino
$3.48 CA$4.90
$1.72 COP 5,599
102.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 CA$2.98
$1.05 COP 3,420
101.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 CA$2.44
$0.77 COP 2,515
125.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.32 CA$8.90
$1.69 COP 5,487
273.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.23 CA$7.35
$3.17 COP 10.3K
64.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vaughan
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 CA$2.47
$1.05 COP 3,423
67.62%
White Bread (500g)
$2.13 CA$3.00
$1.30 COP 4,236
63.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.67 CA$5.17
$1.40 COP 4,544
162.14%
Eggs
$3.38 CA$4.76
$2.16 COP 7,046
56.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.64 CA$12.16
$4.39 COP 14.3K
96.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.08 CA$15.59
$5.88 COP 19.1K
88.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.29 CA$8.85
$8.64 COP 28.1K
-27.20%
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 CA$4.14
$2.28 COP 7,425
28.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.60 CA$2.25
$1.11 COP 3,603
44.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.93 CA$4.12
$1.53 COP 4,982
91.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.41 CA$4.79
$1.35 COP 4,410
152.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 CA$2.67
$1.13 COP 3,674
68.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 CA$2.81
$1.13 COP 3,692
76.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.84 CA$2.60
$0.85 COP 2,753
116.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 CA$2.47
$0.91 COP 2,975
93.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.99 CA$18.27
$2.34 COP 7,629
455.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.55 CA$16.26
$12.37 COP 40.3K
-6.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 CA$3.01
$1.20 COP 3,909
78.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 CA$2.97
$2.49 COP 8,104
-15.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Vaughan
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.83 CA$3.99
$0.84 COP 2,727
236.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$111 CA$156
$40.57 COP 132.1K
172.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 CA$4.34
$1.42 COP 4,623
117.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 CA$1.99
$1.92 COP 6,235
-26.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.39 CA$31.50
$7.66 COP 24.9K
192.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 CA$1.53
$0.99 COP 3,223
10.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K CA$35.5K
$18.0K COP 58.7M
40.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K CA$28.2K
$26.6K COP 86.7M
-24.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vaughan
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$133 CA$188
$80.8 COP 263.1K
64.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.44 CA$47.06
$9.95 COP 32.4K
236.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.61 CA$69.8
$24.18 COP 78.7K
105.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vaughan
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.30 CA$46.85
$25.08 COP 81.6K
32.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.88 CA$30.79
$19.15 COP 62.3K
14.26%
Cinema Ticket
$11.00 CA$15.48
$3.98 COP 13.0K
176.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vaughan
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$820 CA$1,153
$305 COP 993.4K
168.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.4K CA$25.9K
$6,059 COP 19.7M
204.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vaughan
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.70 CA$61.5
$58.1 COP 189.2K
-24.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.61 CA$51.5
$32.20 COP 104.8K
13.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.6 CA$85.3
$101 COP 327.9K
-39.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 CA$146
$108 COP 350.8K
-3.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vaughan
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,744 CA$2,454
$477 COP 1.6M
265.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,558 CA$2,192
$376 COP 1.2M
314.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,034 CA$4,269
$845 COP 2.7M
259.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,553 CA$3,593
$730 COP 2.4M
249.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,654 CA$12.2K
$3,215 COP 10.5M
169.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,311 CA$8,881
$1,372 COP 4.5M
359.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vaughan
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,014 CA$4,240
$617 COP 2.0M
388.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.73
13.43
-49.89%

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

Last update for Vaughan: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,744 in Vaughan versus $477 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 389% higher in Vaughan, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Vaughan versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $193 – making Medellin 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
Vaughan vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Vaughan?
Yes – Vaughan is pricier by about 149%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,855 per month in Vaughan and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Vaughan or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Vaughan and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Vaughan and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,570 in Vaughan and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Vaughan or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Vaughan at $2,570. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vaughan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Vaughan or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vaughan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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