🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $612 in Villavicencio versus $631 in Tarlac City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,021 in Villavicencio versus $948 in Tarlac City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,430 in Villavicencio versus $1,266 in Tarlac City.
🌍Living in Villavicencio costs roughly 3% less than in Tarlac City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Villavicencio54% lower, Tarlac City53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Villavicencio
Tarlac City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.86COP 9,298
$2.64₱162
8.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.52COP 70.1K
$15.13₱932
42.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.16COP 20.1K
$3.65₱224
68.77%
Cappuccino
$1.27COP 4,136
$1.63₱100
-22.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82COP 2,680
$0.88₱54.0
-6.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61COP 1,992
$0.26₱15.87
134.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.12COP 3,631
$0.96₱59.1
16.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66COP 5,395
$1.76₱108
-5.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Villavicencio
Tarlac City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00COP 3,247
$1.63₱101
-38.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.20COP 3,904
$1.47₱90.4
-18.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.90COP 2,935
$0.99₱60.9
-9.09%
Eggs
$1.96COP 6,374
$2.05₱126
-4.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.81COP 15.7K
$9.11₱561
-47.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.15COP 16.8K
$3.23₱199
59.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.21COP 23.5K
$6.14₱378
17.43%
Apples(1kg)
$2.49COP 8,108
$2.90₱179
-14.14%
Banana(1kg)
$0.78COP 2,554
$1.61₱99.0
-51.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,434
$2.10₱129
-35.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.24COP 4,045
$1.52₱93.9
-18.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,606
$1.37₱84.2
-18.98%
Onion(1kg)
$1.14COP 3,696
$1.13₱69.3
0.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72COP 2,341
$0.92₱56.7
-21.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67COP 2,174
$0.88₱54.3
-23.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44COP 7,930
$2.87₱176
-14.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.11COP 39.4K
$3.88₱239
212.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.81COP 2,651
$0.77₱47.16
5.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 5,205
$1.52₱93.6
5.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Villavicencio
Tarlac City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.62COP 2,030
$0.26₱15.85
138.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.54COP 31.0K
$8.14₱501
17.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.43COP 4,649
$0.79₱48.57
81.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39COP 4,518
$0.24₱14.80
479.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.09COP 19.8K
$2.11₱130
188.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02COP 3,317
$1.17₱72.1
-12.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.1KCOP 39.5M
$28.8K₱1.8M
-57.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0KCOP 55.3M
$19.5K₱1.2M
-13.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Villavicencio
Tarlac City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$31.70COP 103.2K
$99.5₱6,128
-68.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.00COP 35.8K
$15.93₱981
-30.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.79COP 74.2K
$26.64₱1,640
-14.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Villavicencio
Tarlac City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.61COP 83.4K
$44.72₱2,753
-42.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.87COP 54.9K
$17.70₱1,090
-4.69%
Cinema Ticket
$3.79COP 12.3K
$6.28₱387
-39.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Villavicencio
Tarlac City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$240COP 781.2K
$170₱10.4K
41.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,420COP 27.4M
$14.4K₱884.1K
-41.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Villavicencio
Tarlac City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5COP 174.1K
$45.07₱2,775
18.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.14COP 104.6K
$26.21₱1,614
22.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.0COP 231.0K
$51.8₱3,188
37.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.3COP 215.9K
$37.47₱2,307
76.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Villavicencio
Tarlac City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$145COP 473.1K
$128₱7,881
13.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$137COP 444.5K
$100₱6,170
36.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$405COP 1.3M
$262₱16.1K
54.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$382COP 1.2M
$174₱10.7K
119.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$375₱23.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$305₱18.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Villavicencio
Tarlac City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$416COP 1.4M
$213₱13.1K
95.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.93
6.17
109.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Villavicencio: July 13, 2026
Last update for Tarlac City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $145 in Villavicencio and $128 in Tarlac City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Villavicencio pays 96% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $22.00 in Villavicencio vs $15.00 in Tarlac City. Groceries flip the comparison at $172 vs $181, with Villavicencio cheaper for home cooking.
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
Villavicencio vs Tarlac City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Villavicencio or Tarlac City?
Villavicencio wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Tarlac City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Villavicencio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Villavicencio or in Tarlac City?
Average pay runs 96% higher in Villavicencio, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Villavicencio compared to Tarlac City?
Rent for a central apartment: $145 in Villavicencio versus $128 in Tarlac City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Villavicencio and in Tarlac City?
Dining out is cheaper in Villavicencio – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $15.00 in Tarlac City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Villavicencio compared to Tarlac City?
All in, you'll spend $612 per month in Villavicencio versus $631 in Tarlac City – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $800/month in Villavicencio or in Tarlac City?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Villavicencio gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Villavicencio or Tarlac City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Villavicencio compared to Tarlac City?
Safety-wise, Villavicencio and Tarlac City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Villavicencio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Tarlac City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Villavicencio vs other spots: cost of living compared