Cost of Living Comparison Between Williams Lake, BC and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Williams Lake, BC and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,070 per month in Williams Lake, BC vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,036 per month in Williams Lake, BC vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,003 per month in Williams Lake, BC vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Williams Lake, BC costs about 104% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Williams Lake, BC sits 54% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15 CA$23.91
$5.99 COP 21.5K
186.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.6 CA$95.7
$32.86 COP 118.1K
108.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.12 CA$15.51
$7.09 COP 25.5K
56.84%
Cappuccino
$3.80 CA$5.30
$1.71 COP 6,154
122.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 CA$2.85
$1.10 COP 3,949
85.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 CA$2.36
$0.78 COP 2,798
117.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.65 CA$7.87
$1.68 COP 6,035
236.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77 CA$8.05
$3.07 COP 11.0K
87.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.47 CA$3.44
$1.09 COP 3,930
126.61%
White Bread (500g)
$2.61 CA$3.65
$1.26 COP 4,536
107.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.65 CA$5.09
$1.38 COP 4,953
164.49%
Eggs
$5.56 CA$7.75
$2.19 COP 7,876
153.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.23 CA$15.65
$4.40 COP 15.8K
155.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.69 CA$16.30
$5.63 COP 20.2K
107.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.76 CA$20.59
$8.89 COP 32.0K
66.03%
Apples (1kg)
$4.08 CA$5.69
$2.34 COP 8,401
74.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 CA$1.95
$1.06 COP 3,801
32.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.58 CA$4.99
$1.50 COP 5,408
138.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.70 CA$5.16
$1.38 COP 4,955
168.12%
Potato (1kg)
$2.49 CA$3.47
$1.15 COP 4,137
116.52%
Onion (1kg)
$2.51 CA$3.50
$1.16 COP 4,181
116.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.61 CA$3.64
$0.89 COP 3,202
193.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 CA$2.37
$0.84 COP 3,016
102.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.92 CA$19.41
$2.28 COP 8,196
510.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.88 CA$16.57
$10.64 COP 38.2K
11.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 CA$4.07
$1.20 COP 4,311
143.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 CA$4.25
$2.47 COP 8,880
23.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.34 CA$3.26
$0.86 COP 3,075
172.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.4 CA$88.4
$41.40 COP 148.8K
53.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.16 CA$4.40
$1.47 COP 5,297
114.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 CA$2.01
$1.96 COP 7,053
-26.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.58 CA$35.67
$7.74 COP 27.8K
230.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 CA$1.67
$0.95 COP 3,430
26.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K CA$35.3K
$18.1K COP 65.2M
39.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K CA$28.9K
$26.5K COP 95.2M
-21.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$140 CA$196
$82.3 COP 295.6K
70.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.27 CA$46.39
$9.50 COP 34.1K
250.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$86.6 CA$121
$24.23 COP 87.1K
257.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.72 CA$58.2
$25.89 COP 93.0K
61.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.00 COP 68.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.36 CA$15.84
$3.93 COP 14.1K
189.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$727 CA$1,014
$309 COP 1.1M
135.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.0K CA$16.7K
$5,965 COP 21.4M
101.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.6 CA$74.8
$58.7 COP 210.8K
-8.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.46 CA$55.0
$32.35 COP 116.2K
21.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.0 CA$119
$103 COP 368.7K
-17.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 CA$152
$108 COP 389.6K
0.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$968 CA$1,350
$476 COP 1.7M
103.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$918 CA$1,280
$379 COP 1.4M
142.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 CA$1,979
$838 COP 3.0M
69.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,298 CA$1,810
$724 COP 2.6M
79.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,449 CA$6,204
$2,791 COP 10.0M
59.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,964 CA$5,528
$1,211 COP 4.4M
227.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,279 CA$4,572
$512 COP 1.8M
540.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.46
13.43
-51.90%

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

Last update for Williams Lake, BC: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $968 in Williams Lake, BC 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 541% higher in Williams Lake, BC, 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 $69.0 in Williams Lake, BC versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $373 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
Williams Lake, BC vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Williams Lake, BC?
Yes – Williams Lake, BC is pricier by about 104%, 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 $3,104 per month in Williams Lake, BC 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 Williams Lake, BC or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Williams Lake, BC and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Williams Lake, BC vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,070 in Williams Lake, BC and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Williams Lake, BC or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Williams Lake, BC at $2,070. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Williams Lake, BC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Williams Lake, BC 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, Williams Lake, BC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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