Cost of Living Comparison Between Vientiane and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Vientiane and Medellin

🙂 Solo nomad: Vientiane is 6.5% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 36.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Vientiane is 2.9% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 39.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vientiane
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.30 LAK 49.6K
$6.03 COP 22.7K
-61.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.33 LAK 417.2K
$33.17 COP 124.8K
-41.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.51 LAK 97.4K
$7.29 COP 27.4K
-38.13%
Cappuccino
$1.65 LAK 35.5K
$1.63 COP 6,133
1.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 LAK 11.9K
$1.05 COP 3,947
-47.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 LAK 7,442
$0.77 COP 2,899
-55.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.21 LAK 26.1K
$1.73 COP 6,510
-30.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 LAK 36.5K
$3.18 COP 12.0K
-46.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vientiane
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.99 LAK 43.0K
$1.07 COP 4,015
85.98%
White Bread (500g)
$0.92 LAK 19.8K
$1.31 COP 4,935
-29.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 LAK 20.1K
$1.38 COP 5,195
-32.61%
Eggs
$1.79 LAK 38.5K
$2.25 COP 8,457
-20.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$28.11 LAK 606.7K
$4.48 COP 16.9K
527.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.75 LAK 145.7K
$5.74 COP 21.6K
17.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.09 LAK 131.4K
$8.86 COP 33.3K
-31.26%
Apples (1kg)
$1.94 LAK 41.8K
$2.24 COP 8,438
-13.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.13 LAK 24.5K
$1.06 COP 3,988
6.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 LAK 44.1K
$1.51 COP 5,697
35.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 LAK 29.6K
$1.36 COP 5,119
0.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.68 LAK 36.3K
$1.12 COP 4,218
50.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 LAK 22.0K
$1.17 COP 4,400
-12.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 LAK 13.3K
$0.90 COP 3,395
-32.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38 LAK 8,271
$0.84 COP 3,150
-54.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94 LAK 41.9K
$2.26 COP 8,501
-14.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.16 LAK 219.3K
$9.97 COP 37.5K
1.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 LAK 21.1K
$1.18 COP 4,451
-16.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 LAK 39.1K
$2.39 COP 8,993
-24.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Vientiane
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.45 LAK 9,635
$0.86 COP 3,233
-47.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.3 LAK 1.1M
$41.45 COP 156.0K
21.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.96 LAK 42.4K
$1.47 COP 5,521
33.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.18 LAK 25.4K
$1.95 COP 7,323
-39.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 LAK 102.8K
$7.76 COP 29.2K
-38.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 LAK 30.0K
$0.97 COP 3,640
43.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K LAK 623.6M
$17.9K COP 67.5M
60.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2K LAK 629.4M
$26.7K COP 100.6M
9.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vientiane
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.0 LAK 1.6M
$81.1 COP 305.2K
-9.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.30 LAK 697.1K
$9.40 COP 35.4K
243.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.35 LAK 244.9K
$23.61 COP 88.8K
-51.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vientiane
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.4 LAK 1.1M
$25.55 COP 96.1K
97.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.71 LAK 123.1K
$19.29 COP 72.6K
-70.40%
Cinema Ticket
$2.53 LAK 54.6K
$4.10 COP 15.4K
-38.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vientiane
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$341 LAK 7.4M
$306 COP 1.2M
11.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,367 LAK 202.1M
$5,899 COP 22.2M
58.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vientiane
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.39 LAK 591.0K
$59.8 COP 225.1K
-54.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.8 LAK 1.5M
$31.96 COP 120.3K
115.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$57.8 LAK 1.2M
$103 COP 386.5K
-43.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.63 LAK 898.4K
$108 COP 405.9K
-61.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vientiane
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$856 LAK 18.5M
$483 COP 1.8M
77.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$796 LAK 17.2M
$377 COP 1.4M
110.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$950 LAK 20.5M
$822 COP 3.1M
15.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,652 LAK 35.6M
$721 COP 2.7M
129.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,395 LAK 51.7M
$2,784 COP 10.5M
-13.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,134 LAK 24.5M
$1,320 COP 5.0M
-14.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vientiane
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$279 LAK 6.0M
$538 COP 2.0M
-48.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.12
13.43
-24.65%

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

Last update for Vientiane: March 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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