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 $2,092 per month in Williams Lake, BC vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,017 per month in Williams Lake, BC vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,941 per month in Williams Lake, BC vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Williams Lake, BC costs about 28% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Williams Lake, BC and Medellin sit above the global median – Williams Lake, BC by 52%, Medellin by 19%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.39 CA$25.51
$8.04 COP 24.8K
128.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.9 CA$91.5
$48.29 COP 148.6K
36.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.07 CA$15.35
$9.42 COP 29.0K
17.52%
Cappuccino
$3.68 CA$5.10
$2.94 COP 9,040
25.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 CA$2.77
$1.86 COP 5,735
7.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 CA$2.33
$1.46 COP 4,479
15.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.81 CA$8.06
$3.21 COP 9,882
81.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.01 CA$8.33
$5.71 COP 17.6K
5.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.43 CA$3.37
$1.44 COP 4,428
68.75%
White Bread (500g)
$2.64 CA$3.66
$2.40 COP 7,389
10.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.65 CA$5.06
$1.70 COP 5,228
114.71%
Eggs
$3.46 CA$4.80
$2.89 COP 8,896
19.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.00 CA$13.87
$10.06 COP 30.9K
-0.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.61 CA$16.11
$9.97 COP 30.7K
16.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.74 CA$20.45
$14.20 COP 43.7K
3.80%
Apples (1kg)
$3.88 CA$5.38
$3.98 COP 12.3K
-2.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.35 CA$1.88
$1.58 COP 4,878
-14.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.65 CA$5.07
$2.15 COP 6,624
69.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.95 CA$5.48
$2.30 COP 7,078
71.74%
Potato (1kg)
$2.59 CA$3.60
$2.00 COP 6,169
29.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 CA$3.16
$1.51 COP 4,646
50.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.54 CA$3.53
$1.20 COP 3,701
111.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 CA$2.37
$1.28 COP 3,946
33.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.01 CA$20.81
$3.84 COP 11.8K
290.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.08 CA$19.53
$14.01 COP 43.1K
0.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 CA$3.65
$1.71 COP 5,256
53.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 CA$4.40
$2.74 COP 8,440
15.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 CA$3.22
$1.25 COP 3,834
85.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.9 CA$83.1
$77.9 COP 239.7K
-23.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 CA$4.40
$1.31 COP 4,016
141.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 CA$2.12
$2.17 COP 6,680
-29.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.90 CA$30.38
$8.29 COP 25.5K
164.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 CA$1.68
$1.36 COP 4,172
-11.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K CA$40.3K
$27.5K COP 84.5M
5.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3K CA$29.6K
$36.5K COP 112.4M
-41.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$139 CA$193
$169 COP 519.2K
-17.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.13 CA$44.56
$13.57 COP 41.8K
136.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$84.8 CA$118
$28.32 COP 87.2K
199.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.98 CA$56.8
$45.71 COP 140.7K
-10.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.51 CA$22.90
$17.22 COP 53.0K
-4.12%
Cinema Ticket
$11.22 CA$15.56
$6.65 COP 20.5K
68.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$765 CA$1,061
$803 COP 2.5M
-4.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.2K CA$15.5K
$9,190 COP 28.3M
21.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 CA$74.1
$87.4 COP 268.8K
-38.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.65 CA$57.8
$59.4 COP 182.7K
-29.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 CA$136
$139 COP 427.5K
-29.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 CA$140
$102 COP 314.0K
-0.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$935 CA$1,296
$1,071 COP 3.3M
-12.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$889 CA$1,233
$653 COP 2.0M
36.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,384 CA$1,919
$1,925 COP 5.9M
-28.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,276 CA$1,769
$1,048 COP 3.2M
21.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,864 CA$6,746
$4,123 COP 12.7M
17.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,558 CA$4,934
$1,697 COP 5.2M
109.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Williams Lake, BC
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,258 CA$4,519
$655 COP 2.0M
397.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.68
10.94
-57.22%

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

Last update for Williams Lake, BC: September 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $935 in Williams Lake, BC 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 397% 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 $66.0 in Williams Lake, BC versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $364 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
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 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 $3,138 per month in Williams Lake, BC 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 Williams Lake, BC or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Williams Lake, BC and $48.00 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 $2,092 in Williams Lake, BC and $1,641 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Williams Lake, BC or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Williams Lake, BC at $2,092. 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.

Williams Lake, BC vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities