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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,551 per month in Vaughan vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,782 per month in Vaughan vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,013 per month in Vaughan vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Vaughan costs about 152% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Vaughan sits 90% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vaughan
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.57 CA$20.26
$5.99 COP 21.3K
143.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.7 CA$105
$32.86 COP 116.9K
130.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.41 CA$14.48
$7.09 COP 25.2K
46.83%
Cappuccino
$3.54 CA$4.92
$1.71 COP 6,093
107.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 CA$2.92
$1.10 COP 3,910
90.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 CA$2.37
$0.78 COP 2,771
119.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.31 CA$8.77
$1.68 COP 5,976
275.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.16 CA$7.18
$3.07 COP 10.9K
68.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vaughan
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 CA$2.44
$1.09 COP 3,892
61.47%
White Bread (500g)
$2.25 CA$3.13
$1.26 COP 4,492
78.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.80 CA$5.29
$1.38 COP 4,905
175.36%
Eggs
$3.41 CA$4.74
$2.19 COP 7,799
55.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.66 CA$12.04
$4.40 COP 15.7K
96.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.81 CA$15.04
$5.63 COP 20.0K
92.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.60 CA$9.18
$8.89 COP 31.6K
-25.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 CA$4.14
$2.34 COP 8,319
27.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 CA$2.14
$1.06 COP 3,764
45.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 CA$3.88
$1.50 COP 5,355
86.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.40 CA$4.72
$1.38 COP 4,906
146.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 CA$2.70
$1.15 COP 4,097
68.70%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 CA$2.84
$1.16 COP 4,141
75.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.79 CA$2.50
$0.89 COP 3,170
101.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 CA$2.36
$0.84 COP 2,986
101.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.99 CA$18.07
$2.28 COP 8,116
469.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.00 CA$16.69
$10.64 COP 37.9K
12.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 CA$2.98
$1.20 COP 4,268
78.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 CA$2.97
$2.47 COP 8,793
-13.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Vaughan
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.82 CA$3.92
$0.86 COP 3,045
227.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$111 CA$154
$41.40 COP 147.3K
167.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 CA$4.40
$1.47 COP 5,245
115.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 CA$1.90
$1.96 COP 6,984
-30.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.62 CA$31.46
$7.74 COP 27.5K
192.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 CA$1.60
$0.95 COP 3,397
21.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K CA$34.5K
$18.1K COP 64.5M
36.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7K CA$27.4K
$26.5K COP 94.2M
-25.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vaughan
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$132 CA$184
$82.3 COP 292.7K
61.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.47 CA$46.55
$9.50 COP 33.8K
252.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.1 CA$71.0
$24.23 COP 86.2K
110.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vaughan
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.59 CA$45.33
$25.89 COP 92.1K
25.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.71 CA$30.19
$19.00 COP 67.6K
14.26%
Cinema Ticket
$10.72 CA$14.91
$3.93 COP 14.0K
172.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vaughan
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$815 CA$1,133
$309 COP 1.1M
163.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.6K CA$25.8K
$5,965 COP 21.2M
211.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vaughan
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.55 CA$60.6
$58.7 COP 208.7K
-25.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.06 CA$51.5
$32.35 COP 115.1K
14.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.1 CA$83.5
$103 COP 365.1K
-41.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 CA$146
$108 COP 385.8K
-3.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vaughan
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,712 CA$2,380
$476 COP 1.7M
259.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,513 CA$2,104
$379 COP 1.3M
299.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,092 CA$4,300
$838 COP 3.0M
268.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,483 CA$3,453
$724 COP 2.6M
243.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,784 CA$12.2K
$2,791 COP 9.9M
214.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,361 CA$8,846
$1,211 COP 4.3M
425.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vaughan
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,036 CA$4,222
$512 COP 1.8M
493.13%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,712 in Vaughan 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 493% 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 $76.0 in Vaughan versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $188 – 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 152%, 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 $3,826 per month in Vaughan and $1,519 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 Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 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 vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,551 in Vaughan and $1,013 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 Vaughan or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Vaughan at $2,551. 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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