Cost of Living Comparison Between Vila Velha and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Vila Velha and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $838 per month in Vila Velha vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,322 per month in Vila Velha vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,807 per month in Vila Velha vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Vila Velha is about 17% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Vila Velha and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Vila Velha 37% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vila Velha
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.43 R$32.16
$5.99 COP 21.4K
7.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.32 R$142
$32.86 COP 117.4K
-13.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.00 R$35.01
$7.09 COP 25.3K
-1.27%
Cappuccino
$1.67 R$8.34
$1.71 COP 6,115
-2.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 R$5.69
$1.10 COP 3,924
3.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 R$2.75
$0.78 COP 2,781
-29.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.57 R$7.88
$1.68 COP 5,997
-6.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 R$13.62
$3.07 COP 11.0K
-11.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vila Velha
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.79 R$3.96
$1.09 COP 3,906
-27.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 R$7.21
$1.26 COP 4,508
14.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.04 R$5.21
$1.38 COP 4,922
-24.64%
Eggs
$1.61 R$8.04
$2.19 COP 7,827
-26.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 R$37.16
$4.40 COP 15.7K
68.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.74 R$18.71
$5.63 COP 20.1K
-33.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.47 R$32.37
$8.89 COP 31.8K
-27.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.00 R$10.00
$2.34 COP 8,349
-14.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 R$6.08
$1.06 COP 3,777
15.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.18 R$5.88
$1.50 COP 5,374
-21.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.29 R$6.48
$1.38 COP 4,924
-6.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 R$5.97
$1.15 COP 4,111
3.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.30 R$6.48
$1.16 COP 4,155
12.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.44 R$2.20
$0.89 COP 3,182
-50.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 R$2.59
$0.84 COP 2,997
-38.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.85 R$14.28
$2.28 COP 8,145
25.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.17 R$45.89
$10.64 COP 38.0K
-13.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 R$4.64
$1.20 COP 4,284
-22.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 R$11.46
$2.47 COP 8,824
-7.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Vila Velha
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.81 R$4.08
$0.86 COP 3,056
-5.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.3 R$267
$41.40 COP 147.9K
28.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.07 R$5.35
$1.47 COP 5,264
-27.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 R$3.65
$1.96 COP 7,009
-62.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 R$19.15
$7.74 COP 27.6K
-50.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 R$5.34
$0.95 COP 3,409
12.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7K R$128.6K
$18.1K COP 64.7M
41.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K R$165.1K
$26.5K COP 94.6M
24.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vila Velha
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 R$626
$82.3 COP 293.7K
52.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.27 R$86.4
$9.50 COP 33.9K
81.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.14 R$85.8
$24.23 COP 86.5K
-29.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vila Velha
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.22 R$131
$25.89 COP 92.4K
1.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.36 R$107
$19.00 COP 67.9K
12.42%
Cinema Ticket
$5.30 R$26.50
$3.93 COP 14.0K
34.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vila Velha
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$412 R$2,062
$309 COP 1.1M
33.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,472 R$32.4K
$5,965 COP 21.3M
8.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vila Velha
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.79 R$184
$58.7 COP 209.5K
-37.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.18 R$201
$32.35 COP 115.5K
24.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$55.0 R$275
$103 COP 366.4K
-46.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.2 R$321
$108 COP 387.2K
-40.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vila Velha
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$298 R$1,489
$476 COP 1.7M
-37.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$213 R$1,066
$379 COP 1.4M
-43.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$520 R$2,601
$838 COP 3.0M
-38.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$473 R$2,368
$724 COP 2.6M
-34.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,037 R$10.2K
$2,791 COP 10.0M
-27.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,026 R$10.1K
$1,211 COP 4.3M
67.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vila Velha
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$418 R$2,092
$512 COP 1.8M
-18.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.38
13.43
-22.71%

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

Last update for Vila Velha: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $298 in Vila Velha 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 22% higher in Medellin, 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 $28.00 in Vila Velha versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $163 vs $188 – making Vila Velha 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
Vila Velha vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Vila Velha?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,257 per month in Vila Velha 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 Vila Velha, 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 Vila Velha or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Vila Velha 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 Vila Velha vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $838 in Vila Velha 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 Vila Velha or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Vila Velha, where all-in costs run around $838, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Vila Velha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Vila Velha or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Vila Velha – 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 Vila Velha. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Vila Velha vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities