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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,589 per month in Vigo vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,325 per month in Vigo vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,061 per month in Vigo vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Vigo costs about 57% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Vigo sits 19% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.05 €12.08
$5.99 COP 21.4K
134.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.8 €49.68
$32.86 COP 117.4K
75.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 €9.07
$7.09 COP 25.3K
48.66%
Cappuccino
$2.17 €1.86
$1.71 COP 6,115
26.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 €1.88
$1.10 COP 3,924
99.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 €1.32
$0.78 COP 2,781
96.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.84 €2.44
$1.68 COP 5,997
69.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 €3.05
$3.07 COP 11.0K
15.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 €1.07
$1.09 COP 3,906
13.76%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 €1.08
$1.26 COP 4,508
-0.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 €1.48
$1.38 COP 4,922
24.64%
Eggs
$2.80 €2.41
$2.19 COP 7,827
27.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.68 €10.90
$4.40 COP 15.7K
188.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.85
$5.63 COP 20.1K
41.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.08 €12.98
$8.89 COP 31.8K
69.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.53 €2.18
$2.34 COP 8,349
8.12%
Banana (1kg)
$2.72 €2.34
$1.06 COP 3,777
156.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 €1.82
$1.50 COP 5,374
41.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.67 €2.30
$1.38 COP 4,924
93.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.58 €1.36
$1.15 COP 4,111
37.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.16 COP 4,155
46.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 €1.09
$0.89 COP 3,182
42.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 €0.79
$0.84 COP 2,997
9.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.59 €5.67
$2.28 COP 8,145
189.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.80 €5.85
$10.64 COP 38.0K
-36.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 €1.71
$1.20 COP 4,284
65.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 €2.67
$2.47 COP 8,824
25.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.78 €1.53
$0.86 COP 3,056
106.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.48 €39.12
$41.40 COP 147.9K
9.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.22 €3.63
$1.47 COP 5,264
187.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 €0.91
$1.96 COP 7,009
-45.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.17 €17.35
$7.74 COP 27.6K
160.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.89 €1.62
$0.95 COP 3,409
98.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K €33.1K
$18.1K COP 64.7M
111.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K €25.5K
$26.5K COP 94.6M
11.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 €145
$82.3 COP 293.7K
105.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.37 €20.11
$9.50 COP 33.9K
146.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.13 €30.22
$24.23 COP 86.5K
44.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.90 €40.34
$25.89 COP 92.4K
81.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.95 €32.64
$19.00 COP 67.9K
99.74%
Cinema Ticket
$10.91 €9.39
$3.93 COP 14.0K
177.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$530 €456
$309 COP 1.1M
71.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,464 €7,281
$5,965 COP 21.3M
41.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.4 €51.1
$58.7 COP 209.5K
1.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.77 €32.49
$32.35 COP 115.5K
16.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.2 €75.9
$103 COP 366.4K
-14.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 €91.4
$108 COP 387.2K
-2.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$759 €653
$476 COP 1.7M
59.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$602 €518
$379 COP 1.4M
59.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,210 €1,041
$838 COP 3.0M
44.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$842 €724
$724 COP 2.6M
16.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,076 €2,646
$2,791 COP 10.0M
10.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,883 €1,620
$1,211 COP 4.3M
55.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,920 €1,651
$512 COP 1.8M
275.12%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $759 in Vigo 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 275% 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: $271 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
Vigo vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Vigo?
Yes – Vigo is pricier by about 57%, 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 $2,384 per month in Vigo 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 Vigo or 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 vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,589 in Vigo 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 Vigo or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Vigo at $1,589. 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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