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 $2,127 per month in Williams Lake, BC vs $1,018 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,044 per month in Williams Lake, BC vs $1,609 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,961 per month in Williams Lake, BC vs $2,200 in Medellin, rent included.

Williams Lake, BC costs about 109% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Williams Lake, BC sits 59% 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$24.16
$5.93 COP 19.0K
189.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4 CA$97.7
$33.12 COP 106.0K
109.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.90 CA$15.35
$7.12 COP 22.8K
53.09%
Cappuccino
$3.68 CA$5.18
$1.71 COP 5,457
115.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 CA$2.89
$1.05 COP 3,356
95.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 CA$2.35
$0.72 COP 2,311
131.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.55 CA$7.82
$1.72 COP 5,502
222.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.06 CA$8.54
$3.17 COP 10.2K
91.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.47 CA$3.48
$1.06 COP 3,408
133.02%
White Bread (500g)
$2.68 CA$3.77
$1.31 COP 4,192
104.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.57 CA$5.03
$1.33 COP 4,256
168.42%
Eggs
$5.62 CA$7.92
$2.28 COP 7,298
146.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.10 CA$15.63
$4.42 COP 14.1K
151.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.69 CA$16.47
$5.92 COP 18.9K
97.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.77 CA$20.80
$8.64 COP 27.7K
70.95%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 CA$5.61
$2.34 COP 7,504
70.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 CA$1.99
$1.10 COP 3,527
29.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.64 CA$5.12
$1.47 COP 4,698
147.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.70 CA$5.22
$1.38 COP 4,415
168.12%
Potato (1kg)
$2.38 CA$3.35
$1.17 COP 3,754
103.42%
Onion (1kg)
$2.50 CA$3.52
$1.17 COP 3,744
113.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.52 CA$3.54
$0.90 COP 2,890
180.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 CA$2.51
$0.84 COP 2,693
111.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.04 CA$19.78
$2.33 COP 7,449
502.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.83 CA$18.08
$11.92 COP 38.1K
7.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.82 CA$3.97
$1.15 COP 3,673
145.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 CA$4.31
$2.42 COP 7,749
26.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 CA$3.27
$0.84 COP 2,687
176.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$62.1 CA$87.4
$40.83 COP 130.7K
52.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 CA$4.44
$1.41 COP 4,517
123.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 CA$2.03
$1.91 COP 6,127
-24.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.65 CA$36.14
$7.83 COP 25.0K
227.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 CA$1.72
$0.94 COP 3,020
29.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K CA$35.8K
$17.8K COP 57.0M
42.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K CA$29.3K
$27.1K COP 86.7M
-23.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$144 CA$203
$83.3 COP 266.4K
72.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.66 CA$46.00
$9.66 COP 30.9K
238.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.3 CA$123
$24.22 COP 77.5K
260.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.22 CA$58.1
$25.22 COP 80.7K
63.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.33 COP 61.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.53 CA$16.23
$4.07 COP 13.0K
183.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$740 CA$1,043
$307 COP 981.2K
141.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K CA$16.6K
$5,981 COP 19.1M
96.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 CA$75.9
$60.0 COP 191.9K
-10.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.18 CA$56.6
$32.65 COP 104.5K
23.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 CA$119
$101 COP 323.5K
-16.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 CA$150
$108 COP 345.7K
-1.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 CA$1,370
$476 COP 1.5M
104.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$937 CA$1,320
$379 COP 1.2M
147.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,394 CA$1,963
$816 COP 2.6M
70.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,307 CA$1,840
$707 COP 2.3M
84.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,779 CA$6,731
$3,190 COP 10.2M
49.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,317 CA$4,672
$1,446 COP 4.6M
129.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,127 CA$4,405
$622 COP 2.0M
403.00%
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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 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 403% 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: $375 vs $192 – 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 109%, 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 $3,191 per month in Williams Lake, BC and $1,527 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 in 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 and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,127 in Williams Lake, BC and $1,018 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 living in Williams Lake, BC or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,018, than in Williams Lake, BC at $2,127. 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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