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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,886 per month in Willemstad vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,969 per month in Willemstad vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,052 per month in Willemstad vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Willemstad costs about 86% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Willemstad sits 41% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.25 ANG 32.58
$5.99 COP 21.4K
204.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1 ANG 125
$32.86 COP 117.4K
113.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.40 ANG 15.00
$7.09 COP 25.3K
18.48%
Cappuccino
$3.59 ANG 6.41
$1.71 COP 6,115
109.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 ANG 5.31
$1.10 COP 3,924
170.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 ANG 2.63
$0.78 COP 2,781
88.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.72 ANG 10.20
$1.68 COP 5,997
240.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 ANG 8.26
$3.07 COP 11.0K
50.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 ANG 3.17
$1.09 COP 3,906
63.30%
White Bread (500g)
$2.35 ANG 4.20
$1.26 COP 4,508
86.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.68 ANG 4.78
$1.38 COP 4,922
94.20%
Eggs
$3.63 ANG 6.49
$2.19 COP 7,827
65.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 ANG 17.31
$4.40 COP 15.7K
120.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.63 ANG 13.62
$5.63 COP 20.1K
35.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.45 ANG 16.86
$8.89 COP 31.8K
6.30%
Apples (1kg)
$5.25 ANG 9.37
$2.34 COP 8,349
124.36%
Banana (1kg)
$3.24 ANG 5.78
$1.06 COP 3,777
205.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.04 ANG 5.43
$1.50 COP 5,374
102.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.28 ANG 7.63
$1.38 COP 4,924
210.14%
Potato (1kg)
$3.04 ANG 5.44
$1.15 COP 4,111
164.35%
Onion (1kg)
$2.83 ANG 5.04
$1.16 COP 4,155
143.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.18 ANG 3.89
$0.89 COP 3,182
144.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 ANG 3.75
$0.84 COP 2,997
150.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.45 ANG 15.09
$2.28 COP 8,145
270.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.20 ANG 25.35
$10.64 COP 38.0K
33.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 ANG 4.59
$1.20 COP 4,284
114.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 ANG 5.66
$2.47 COP 8,824
28.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.69 ANG 3.01
$0.86 COP 3,056
96.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.40 COP 147.9K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$25.20 ANG 44.99
$1.47 COP 5,264
1614.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.64 ANG 4.72
$1.96 COP 7,009
34.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.6 ANG 90.2
$7.74 COP 27.6K
553.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ANG 2.27
$0.95 COP 3,409
33.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$18.1K COP 64.7M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K ANG 34.6K
$26.5K COP 94.6M
-26.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$239 ANG 427
$82.3 COP 293.7K
190.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$82.4 ANG 147
$9.50 COP 33.9K
767.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.0 ANG 114
$24.23 COP 86.5K
164.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.7 ANG 97.7
$25.89 COP 92.4K
111.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.2 ANG 113
$19.00 COP 67.9K
232.37%
Cinema Ticket
$9.66 ANG 17.24
$3.93 COP 14.0K
145.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$225 ANG 402
$309 COP 1.1M
-27.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,503 ANG 17.0K
$5,965 COP 21.3M
59.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.9 ANG 160
$58.7 COP 209.5K
53.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$92.1 ANG 164
$32.35 COP 115.5K
184.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$142 ANG 254
$103 COP 366.4K
38.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 ANG 197
$108 COP 387.2K
1.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$724 ANG 1,292
$476 COP 1.7M
52.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$553 ANG 987
$379 COP 1.4M
46.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,726 ANG 3,081
$838 COP 3.0M
105.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,156 ANG 2,064
$724 COP 2.6M
59.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$848 ANG 1,514
$2,791 COP 10.0M
-69.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$166 ANG 296
$1,211 COP 4.3M
-86.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,238 ANG 2,210
$512 COP 1.8M
141.96%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $724 in Willemstad 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 142% 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 $70.0 in Willemstad versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $338 vs $188 – 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 86%, 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 $2,828 per month in Willemstad 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 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 Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 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 Medellin?
Groceries cost about 79% 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 Willemstad or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Willemstad at $1,886. 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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