😐A single person spends $1,127 per month in Villahermosa vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,826 per month in Villahermosa vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,525 per month in Villahermosa vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Villahermosa costs about 11% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Villahermosa and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Villahermosa16% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Villahermosa
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.78MX$185
$5.95COP 20.8K
81.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.78MX$580
$33.33COP 116.3K
1.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.66MX$183
$7.23COP 25.2K
47.44%
Cappuccino
$3.17MX$54.4
$1.63COP 5,687
94.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18MX$20.20
$1.09COP 3,821
8.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01MX$17.41
$0.73COP 2,548
38.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.82MX$48.36
$1.74COP 6,065
62.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.23MX$89.8
$3.23COP 11.3K
61.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Villahermosa
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41MX$24.21
$1.05COP 3,662
34.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.55MX$26.59
$1.29COP 4,515
20.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.35MX$23.12
$1.32COP 4,617
2.27%
Eggs
$2.39MX$40.97
$2.27COP 7,927
5.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.22MX$141
$4.35COP 15.2K
88.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.40MX$178
$5.88COP 20.5K
76.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.11MX$225
$8.61COP 30.0K
52.26%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39MX$58.2
$2.25COP 7,844
50.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.30MX$22.39
$1.07COP 3,733
21.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62MX$27.76
$1.52COP 5,322
6.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.16MX$19.99
$1.42COP 4,964
-18.31%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55MX$26.55
$1.17COP 4,084
32.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.30MX$22.38
$1.17COP 4,077
11.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.29MX$22.09
$0.89COP 3,096
44.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06MX$18.20
$0.90COP 3,146
17.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.02MX$86.2
$2.25COP 7,837
123.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.19MX$175
$11.04COP 38.5K
-7.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.69MX$46.17
$1.14COP 3,977
135.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.53MX$112
$2.38COP 8,301
174.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Villahermosa
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.61MX$10.42
$0.84COP 2,916
-27.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.95COP 146.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.18MX$37.39
$1.41COP 4,912
54.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59MX$27.23
$1.90COP 6,634
-16.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.22MX$141
$7.75COP 27.0K
6.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23MX$21.15
$1.01COP 3,509
21.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.6KMX$388.6K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
28.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$447.6K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-1.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Villahermosa
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.4MX$1,037
$83.7COP 292.1K
-27.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.94MX$497
$9.45COP 33.0K
206.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.95MX$497
$24.11COP 84.1K
20.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Villahermosa
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.69MX$784
$25.31COP 88.3K
80.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.66MX$269
$19.14COP 66.8K
-18.18%
Cinema Ticket
$3.63MX$62.2
$4.10COP 14.3K
-11.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Villahermosa
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$293MX$5,032
$312COP 1.1M
-6.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,245MX$72.9K
$5,993COP 20.9M
-29.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Villahermosa
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9MX$977
$58.0COP 202.6K
-1.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.41MX$676
$32.56COP 113.6K
21.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.6MX$1,331
$99.6COP 347.7K
-22.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.2MX$1,015
$109COP 378.8K
-45.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Villahermosa
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$345MX$5,914
$482COP 1.7M
-28.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$372MX$6,379
$379COP 1.3M
-2.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$817MX$14.0K
$837COP 2.9M
-2.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$826MX$14.2K
$723COP 2.5M
14.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,840COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,242MX$21.3K
$1,223COP 4.3M
1.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Villahermosa
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$541COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.5
13.43
-14.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Villahermosa: June 9, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $345 in Villahermosa versus $482 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Villahermosa versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $270 vs $190 – 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
Villahermosa vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Villahermosa?
Yes – Villahermosa is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,691 per month in Villahermosa and $1,525 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 Villahermosa or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Villahermosa and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Villahermosa and Medellin?
Groceries cost about 42% more in Villahermosa, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Villahermosa or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Villahermosa at $1,127. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Villahermosa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Villahermosa 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 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, Villahermosa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Villahermosa vs other spots: cost of living compared