Cost of Living Comparison Between Vigo and MedellinCost of Living Comparison Between Vigo and Medellin
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,722 per month in Vigo vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,503 per month in Vigo vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,283 per month in Vigo vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Vigo costs about 2% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Vigo and Medellin sit above the global median – Vigo by 26%, Medellin by 23%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.78€12.88
$8.02COP 25.0K
84.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.5€51.0
$47.87COP 149.4K
22.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.93
$9.89COP 30.8K
15.17%
Cappuccino
$2.41€2.10
$3.13COP 9,767
-23.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77€2.42
$1.91COP 5,954
45.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71€1.49
$1.51COP 4,712
13.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.54€3.08
$3.12COP 9,747
13.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76€4.15
$5.75COP 17.9K
-17.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.11
$1.44COP 4,509
-11.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.40€1.22
$2.49COP 7,759
-43.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89€1.65
$1.77COP 5,535
6.78%
Eggs
$4.23€3.69
$2.96COP 9,235
42.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.37€13.40
$10.07COP 31.4K
52.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.84€6.83
$10.12COP 31.6K
-22.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.83€15.54
$14.30COP 44.6K
24.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€2.01
$4.14COP 12.9K
-44.20%
Banana(1kg)
$2.79€2.43
$1.61COP 5,019
73.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.53€2.21
$2.25COP 7,007
12.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.23
$2.25COP 7,028
13.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49€1.30
$2.04COP 6,375
-26.96%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66€1.45
$1.54COP 4,790
7.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.38€1.21
$1.17COP 3,651
17.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73€0.64
$1.31COP 4,077
-44.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.44€5.62
$3.90COP 12.2K
65.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.73€5.87
$14.01COP 43.7K
-51.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18€1.90
$1.74COP 5,439
25.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.63
$2.87COP 8,956
5.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.85€1.62
$1.22COP 3,792
51.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.06€30.57
$80.5COP 251.1K
-56.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.74€4.13
$1.31COP 4,084
261.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.19€1.04
$2.19COP 6,825
-45.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.15€20.18
$8.71COP 27.2K
165.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.78€1.55
$1.37COP 4,260
29.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K€33.3K
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
37.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0K€27.0K
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
-13.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173€151
$177COP 553.2K
-2.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.01€18.31
$13.88COP 43.3K
51.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.72€35.50
$29.72COP 92.8K
37.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.12€41.07
$44.88COP 140.1K
4.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.28€29.01
$17.12COP 53.4K
94.39%
Cinema Ticket
$15.25€13.29
$6.65COP 20.7K
129.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$635€553
$813COP 2.5M
-21.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,622€7,516
$9,187COP 28.7M
-6.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.0€63.6
$89.5COP 279.3K
-18.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.9€47.84
$59.0COP 184.0K
-6.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.9€80.1
$138COP 431.2K
-33.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126€110
$102COP 318.7K
23.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$915€798
$1,062COP 3.3M
-13.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$708€617
$663COP 2.1M
6.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,428€1,245
$1,888COP 5.9M
-24.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$989€862
$1,027COP 3.2M
-3.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,121€2,721
$4,183COP 13.1M
-25.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,844€1,607
$1,675COP 5.2M
10.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vigo
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,948€1,698
$678COP 2.1M
187.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.96
10.94
-63.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vigo: September 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $915 in Vigo versus $1,062 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 187% 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 $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $294 in Vigo vs $305 in Medellin – so Vigo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 2%, 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 $2,583 per month in Vigo and $2,521 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 $48.00 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 $1,722 in Vigo and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Vigo or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in Vigo at $1,722. 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.