😐A single person spends $2,098 per month in Willemstad vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,204 per month in Willemstad vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,310 per month in Willemstad vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Willemstad costs about 28% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Willemstad and Medellin sit above the global median – Willemstad by 52%, Medellin by 19%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.07ANG 34.04
$8.04COP 25.1K
137.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.4ANG 147
$48.29COP 150.7K
70.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.21ANG 20.00
$9.42COP 29.4K
19.00%
Cappuccino
$3.79ANG 6.77
$2.94COP 9,169
28.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10ANG 5.53
$1.86COP 5,817
66.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85ANG 3.31
$1.46COP 4,543
26.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.88ANG 10.49
$3.21COP 10.0K
83.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.24ANG 9.36
$5.71COP 17.8K
-8.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93ANG 3.45
$1.44COP 4,491
34.03%
White Bread(500g)
$2.94ANG 5.25
$2.40COP 7,494
22.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.57ANG 6.37
$1.70COP 5,302
110.00%
Eggs
$3.84ANG 6.85
$2.89COP 9,022
32.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.36ANG 29.20
$10.06COP 31.4K
62.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.13ANG 12.72
$9.97COP 31.1K
-28.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.89ANG 21.23
$14.20COP 44.3K
-16.27%
Apples(1kg)
$5.43ANG 9.69
$3.98COP 12.4K
36.43%
Banana(1kg)
$3.05ANG 5.45
$1.58COP 4,947
93.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.38ANG 6.04
$2.15COP 6,718
57.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.01ANG 7.15
$2.30COP 7,178
74.35%
Potato(1kg)
$2.55ANG 4.55
$2.00COP 6,257
27.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.96ANG 3.50
$1.51COP 4,712
29.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.41ANG 4.30
$1.20COP 3,754
100.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.79ANG 4.98
$1.28COP 4,002
117.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.78ANG 17.45
$3.84COP 12.0K
154.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12ANG 21.63
$14.01COP 43.7K
-13.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41ANG 4.30
$1.71COP 5,331
40.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42ANG 4.33
$2.74COP 8,560
-11.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.91ANG 3.40
$1.25COP 3,888
52.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$77.9COP 243.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$22.42ANG 40.02
$1.31COP 4,073
1611.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.17COP 6,775
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.29COP 25.9K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32ANG 2.36
$1.36COP 4,231
-2.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.5KCOP 85.7M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7KANG 36.9K
$36.5KCOP 114.0M
-43.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$274ANG 489
$169COP 526.6K
62.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$77.3ANG 138
$13.57COP 42.4K
469.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.6ANG 117
$28.32COP 88.4K
131.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.88ANG 87.3
$45.71COP 142.7K
6.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.85ANG 80.1
$17.22COP 53.8K
160.45%
Cinema Ticket
$12.16ANG 21.71
$6.65COP 20.8K
82.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$322ANG 576
$803COP 2.5M
-59.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.3KANG 22.0K
$9,190COP 28.7M
34.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102ANG 181
$87.4COP 272.7K
16.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$73.0ANG 130
$59.4COP 185.3K
22.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$163ANG 291
$139COP 433.6K
17.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.1ANG 166
$102COP 318.5K
-8.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$810ANG 1,446
$1,071COP 3.3M
-24.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$678ANG 1,210
$653COP 2.0M
3.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,688ANG 3,014
$1,925COP 6.0M
-12.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,212ANG 2,163
$1,048COP 3.3M
15.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$832ANG 1,485
$4,123COP 12.9M
-79.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$164ANG 294
$1,697COP 5.3M
-90.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Willemstad
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,233ANG 2,200
$655COP 2.0M
88.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.97
10.94
-54.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Willemstad: September 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $810 in Willemstad versus $1,071 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 88% 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 $82.0 in Willemstad versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $374 vs $300 – 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 28%, 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 $3,147 per month in Willemstad and $2,462 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 $82.0 in Willemstad and $48.00 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 24% 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 $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Willemstad or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Willemstad at $2,098. 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.
Willemstad vs other spots: cost of living compared