Cost of Living Comparison Between Willemstad and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Willemstad and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,825 per month in Willemstad vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,920 per month in Willemstad vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,015 per month in Willemstad vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Willemstad costs about 77% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Willemstad sits 37% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.32 ANG 32.71
$6.16 COP 20.1K
197.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.9 ANG 127
$32.60 COP 106.1K
117.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.53 ANG 15.22
$7.34 COP 23.9K
16.21%
Cappuccino
$3.50 ANG 6.25
$1.72 COP 5,600
103.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 ANG 5.19
$1.05 COP 3,420
177.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 ANG 2.55
$0.77 COP 2,515
85.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.63 ANG 10.05
$1.69 COP 5,488
233.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.79 ANG 8.54
$3.17 COP 10.3K
51.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ANG 3.06
$1.05 COP 3,423
63.81%
White Bread (500g)
$2.35 ANG 4.20
$1.30 COP 4,236
80.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.72 ANG 4.85
$1.40 COP 4,544
94.29%
Eggs
$3.60 ANG 6.42
$2.16 COP 7,047
66.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.68 ANG 17.28
$4.39 COP 14.3K
120.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.67 ANG 13.70
$5.88 COP 19.1K
30.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.44 ANG 16.84
$8.64 COP 28.1K
9.26%
Apples (1kg)
$5.02 ANG 8.97
$2.28 COP 7,426
120.18%
Banana (1kg)
$3.37 ANG 6.02
$1.11 COP 3,604
203.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.11 ANG 5.55
$1.53 COP 4,983
103.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.37 ANG 7.80
$1.35 COP 4,410
223.70%
Potato (1kg)
$3.01 ANG 5.38
$1.13 COP 3,674
166.37%
Onion (1kg)
$2.86 ANG 5.10
$1.13 COP 3,692
153.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.19 ANG 3.91
$0.85 COP 2,753
157.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 ANG 3.78
$0.91 COP 2,975
131.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.30 ANG 14.81
$2.34 COP 7,630
254.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.28 ANG 21.91
$12.37 COP 40.3K
-0.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.56 ANG 4.58
$1.20 COP 3,909
113.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 ANG 5.87
$2.49 COP 8,104
32.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 ANG 3.06
$0.84 COP 2,728
103.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$40.57 COP 132.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$25.60 ANG 45.70
$1.42 COP 4,623
1702.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.59 ANG 4.63
$1.92 COP 6,235
34.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.3 ANG 89.8
$7.66 COP 24.9K
556.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ANG 2.27
$0.99 COP 3,223
28.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$18.0K COP 58.7M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7K ANG 35.1K
$26.6K COP 86.7M
-26.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$238 ANG 425
$80.8 COP 263.1K
194.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$82.1 ANG 147
$9.95 COP 32.4K
725.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.2 ANG 111
$24.18 COP 78.7K
157.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.7 ANG 99.4
$25.08 COP 81.7K
121.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.1 ANG 113
$19.15 COP 62.3K
229.35%
Cinema Ticket
$9.66 ANG 17.25
$3.98 COP 13.0K
142.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$228 ANG 408
$305 COP 993.5K
-25.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,378 ANG 16.7K
$6,059 COP 19.7M
54.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.8 ANG 160
$58.1 COP 189.2K
54.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$89.2 ANG 159
$32.20 COP 104.8K
176.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$142 ANG 253
$101 COP 327.9K
40.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 ANG 195
$108 COP 350.8K
1.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$724 ANG 1,293
$477 COP 1.6M
51.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$546 ANG 974
$376 COP 1.2M
45.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,725 ANG 3,079
$845 COP 2.7M
104.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,172 ANG 2,092
$730 COP 2.4M
60.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$841 ANG 1,501
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-73.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$169 ANG 302
$1,372 COP 4.5M
-87.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,278 ANG 2,282
$617 COP 2.0M
107.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.97
13.43
-62.99%

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

Last update for Willemstad: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $724 in Willemstad versus $477 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 107% higher in Willemstad, 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 $71.0 in Willemstad versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $334 vs $193 – 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
Willemstad vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Willemstad?
Yes – Willemstad is pricier by about 77%, 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 $2,738 per month in Willemstad and $1,546 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 Willemstad or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Willemstad 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 Willemstad and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 73% more in Willemstad, 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 living in Willemstad or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Willemstad at $1,825. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Willemstad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Willemstad 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, Willemstad 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, Willemstad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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