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 $2,072 per month in Williams Lake, BC vs $1,030 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,029 per month in Williams Lake, BC vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,986 per month in Williams Lake, BC vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Williams Lake, BC costs about 101% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Williams Lake, BC sits 55% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.81 CA$23.02
$5.92 COP 21.3K
183.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.7 CA$96.9
$33.17 COP 119.5K
113.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.22 CA$15.37
$7.25 COP 26.1K
54.76%
Cappuccino
$3.71 CA$5.08
$1.71 COP 6,176
116.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 CA$2.81
$1.09 COP 3,940
88.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 CA$2.35
$0.77 COP 2,760
122.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.48 CA$7.51
$1.75 COP 6,294
213.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.97 CA$8.18
$3.18 COP 11.5K
87.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.46 CA$3.37
$1.06 COP 3,816
132.08%
White Bread (500g)
$2.74 CA$3.75
$1.30 COP 4,687
110.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.52 CA$4.82
$1.38 COP 4,958
155.07%
Eggs
$5.59 CA$7.66
$2.21 COP 7,958
152.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.03 CA$15.11
$4.52 COP 16.3K
144.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.63 CA$15.93
$5.80 COP 20.9K
100.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.90 CA$20.41
$8.97 COP 32.3K
66.11%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 CA$5.44
$2.29 COP 8,235
73.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 CA$1.95
$1.06 COP 3,815
33.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.69 CA$5.05
$1.51 COP 5,446
144.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.66 CA$5.01
$1.36 COP 4,900
169.12%
Potato (1kg)
$2.48 CA$3.40
$1.16 COP 4,172
113.79%
Onion (1kg)
$2.47 CA$3.39
$1.17 COP 4,201
111.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.51 CA$3.44
$0.83 COP 2,979
202.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 CA$2.33
$0.85 COP 3,063
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.75 CA$18.83
$2.35 COP 8,477
485.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.25 CA$15.41
$11.09 COP 39.9K
1.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.91 CA$3.99
$1.15 COP 4,159
153.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 CA$4.19
$2.47 COP 8,910
23.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.43 CA$3.33
$0.79 COP 2,845
207.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.6 CA$87.1
$41.85 COP 150.7K
51.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.21 CA$4.40
$1.44 COP 5,173
122.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 CA$1.95
$1.90 COP 6,836
-24.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.34 CA$34.72
$7.70 COP 27.7K
229.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 CA$1.65
$1.03 COP 3,704
17.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K CA$33.6K
$17.7K COP 63.7M
38.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K CA$27.9K
$27.0K COP 97.3M
-24.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$140 CA$192
$81.4 COP 293.2K
71.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.18 CA$45.45
$9.42 COP 33.9K
252.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$86.1 CA$118
$23.77 COP 85.6K
262.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.92 CA$57.4
$25.86 COP 93.2K
62.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.34 COP 69.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.38 CA$15.59
$4.05 COP 14.6K
180.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$733 CA$1,004
$312 COP 1.1M
134.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.0K CA$16.4K
$6,067 COP 21.9M
97.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 CA$73.9
$58.9 COP 212.0K
-8.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.73 CA$54.4
$32.82 COP 118.2K
21.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.2 CA$119
$100 COP 361.9K
-13.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 CA$144
$106 COP 382.8K
-1.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 CA$1,319
$490 COP 1.8M
96.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$915 CA$1,253
$371 COP 1.3M
146.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,373 CA$1,881
$838 COP 3.0M
63.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,310 CA$1,795
$715 COP 2.6M
83.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,983 CA$6,827
$2,952 COP 10.6M
68.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,867 CA$5,298
$1,394 COP 5.0M
177.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,261 CA$4,468
$532 COP 1.9M
512.93%
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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Williams Lake, BC versus $490 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 513% 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 $71 in Williams Lake, BC versus $33 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $372 vs $190 – 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 101%, 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 $3,108 per month in Williams Lake, BC and $1,544 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 $71.0 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 $2,072 in Williams Lake, BC and $1,030 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 $1,030, than in Williams Lake, BC at $2,072. 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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