Cost of Living Comparison Between Vigo and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Vigo and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,576 per month in Vigo vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Vigo vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,982 per month in Vigo vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Vigo costs about 53% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Vigo sits 18% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.88 €12.12
$6.16 COP 20.0K
125.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.9 €50.6
$32.60 COP 106.0K
77.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.62 €9.28
$7.34 COP 23.9K
44.69%
Cappuccino
$2.09 €1.82
$1.72 COP 5,592
21.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 €1.98
$1.05 COP 3,416
115.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.38
$0.77 COP 2,511
105.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.82 €2.46
$1.69 COP 5,480
66.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 €3.10
$3.17 COP 10.3K
11.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 €1.08
$1.05 COP 3,418
18.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 €1.06
$1.30 COP 4,230
-6.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 €1.47
$1.40 COP 4,538
20.00%
Eggs
$2.71 €2.37
$2.16 COP 7,037
25.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.92 €11.29
$4.39 COP 14.3K
194.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.69 €6.72
$5.88 COP 19.1K
30.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.54 €13.57
$8.64 COP 28.1K
79.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.43 €2.13
$2.28 COP 7,415
6.58%
Banana (1kg)
$2.65 €2.31
$1.11 COP 3,599
138.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 €1.86
$1.53 COP 4,976
39.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.58 €2.26
$1.35 COP 4,405
91.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.61 €1.40
$1.13 COP 3,669
42.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$1.13 COP 3,687
55.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 €1.09
$0.85 COP 2,749
47.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 €0.80
$0.91 COP 2,971
1.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.66 €5.82
$2.34 COP 7,619
184.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.99 €6.11
$12.37 COP 40.2K
-43.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 €1.70
$1.20 COP 3,904
61.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 €2.61
$2.49 COP 8,094
20.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 €1.50
$0.84 COP 2,724
103.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.16 €41.21
$40.57 COP 131.9K
16.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.43 €3.87
$1.42 COP 4,617
211.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 €0.93
$1.92 COP 6,227
-44.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.65 €17.17
$7.66 COP 24.9K
156.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.80 €1.57
$0.99 COP 3,219
81.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K €33.8K
$18.0K COP 58.6M
114.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6K €25.8K
$26.6K COP 86.6M
11.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 €148
$80.8 COP 262.7K
109.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.79 €19.91
$9.95 COP 32.3K
129.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.22 €30.77
$24.18 COP 78.6K
45.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.67 €40.78
$25.08 COP 81.5K
86.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.21 €34.26
$19.15 COP 62.3K
104.75%
Cinema Ticket
$10.96 €9.58
$3.98 COP 13.0K
175.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$535 €467
$305 COP 992.2K
75.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,354 €7,299
$6,059 COP 19.7M
37.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.2 €50.8
$58.1 COP 189.0K
0.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.64 €32.89
$32.20 COP 104.7K
16.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.7 €77.5
$101 COP 327.5K
-11.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 €92.9
$108 COP 350.3K
-1.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$763 €667
$477 COP 1.5M
60.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$605 €529
$376 COP 1.2M
60.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,250 €1,092
$845 COP 2.7M
48.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$863 €754
$730 COP 2.4M
18.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,024 €2,642
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-5.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,853 €1,619
$1,372 COP 4.5M
35.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,913 €1,671
$617 COP 2.0M
210.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.98
13.43
-70.36%

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

Last update for Vigo: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $763 in Vigo 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 210% higher in Vigo, 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 $58.0 in Vigo versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $270 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
Vigo vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Vigo?
Yes – Vigo is pricier by about 53%, 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 $2,364 per month in Vigo 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 Vigo or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Vigo 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 Vigo and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,576 in Vigo 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 Vigo or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Vigo at $1,576. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vigo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Vigo 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 safer, Vigo or Medellin?
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.
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, Vigo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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