Cost of Living Comparison Between Bauru and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Bauru and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $644 in Bauru versus $1,013 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,070 in Bauru versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,497 in Bauru versus $2,192 in Medellin.

Living in Bauru costs roughly 36% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bauru 52% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bauru
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.97 R$24.87
$5.99 COP 21.4K
-17.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.71 R$109
$32.86 COP 117.4K
-33.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.14 R$30.73
$7.09 COP 25.3K
-13.40%
Cappuccino
$1.39 R$6.95
$1.71 COP 6,115
-18.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 R$4.29
$1.10 COP 3,924
-21.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 R$2.78
$0.78 COP 2,781
-28.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.40 R$6.99
$1.68 COP 5,997
-16.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 R$12.05
$3.07 COP 11.0K
-21.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bauru
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.84 R$4.19
$1.09 COP 3,906
-22.94%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 R$6.49
$1.26 COP 4,508
3.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 R$5.63
$1.38 COP 4,922
-18.12%
Eggs
$2.28 R$11.39
$2.19 COP 7,827
4.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.38 R$31.92
$4.40 COP 15.7K
45.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 R$19.41
$5.63 COP 20.1K
-31.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.18 R$25.90
$8.89 COP 31.8K
-41.73%
Apples (1kg)
$1.94 R$9.70
$2.34 COP 8,349
-17.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 R$6.92
$1.06 COP 3,777
30.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.07 R$5.33
$1.50 COP 5,374
-28.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.73 R$8.65
$1.38 COP 4,924
25.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 R$6.50
$1.15 COP 4,111
13.04%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 R$5.89
$1.16 COP 4,155
1.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 R$4.77
$0.89 COP 3,182
6.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 R$3.40
$0.84 COP 2,997
-19.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.83 R$9.14
$2.28 COP 8,145
-19.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.83 R$34.20
$10.64 COP 38.0K
-35.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 R$5.29
$1.20 COP 4,284
-11.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 R$7.90
$2.47 COP 8,824
-36.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Bauru
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 R$4.42
$0.86 COP 3,056
2.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.69 R$134
$41.40 COP 147.9K
-35.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.69 R$3.43
$1.47 COP 5,264
-53.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 R$2.90
$1.96 COP 7,009
-70.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.55 R$22.76
$7.74 COP 27.6K
-41.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 R$4.63
$0.95 COP 3,409
-2.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K R$107.7K
$18.1K COP 64.7M
18.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K R$141.7K
$26.5K COP 94.6M
6.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bauru
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$50.9 R$255
$82.3 COP 293.7K
-38.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.90 R$59.5
$9.50 COP 33.9K
25.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.08 R$101
$24.23 COP 86.5K
-17.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bauru
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.10 R$101
$25.89 COP 92.4K
-22.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.57 R$97.9
$19.00 COP 67.9K
3.00%
Cinema Ticket
$3.84 R$19.20
$3.93 COP 14.0K
-2.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bauru
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$284 R$1,421
$309 COP 1.1M
-8.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,305 R$26.5K
$5,965 COP 21.3M
-11.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bauru
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.89 R$235
$58.7 COP 209.5K
-20.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.64 R$223
$32.35 COP 115.5K
37.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.9 R$375
$103 COP 366.4K
-27.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.2 R$346
$108 COP 387.2K
-36.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bauru
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$232 R$1,160
$476 COP 1.7M
-51.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$149 R$746
$379 COP 1.4M
-60.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$444 R$2,223
$838 COP 3.0M
-47.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$337 R$1,685
$724 COP 2.6M
-53.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,601 R$8,013
$2,791 COP 10.0M
-42.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$695 R$3,480
$1,211 COP 4.3M
-42.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bauru
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$381 R$1,909
$512 COP 1.8M
-25.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.59
13.43
-28.59%

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

Last update for Bauru: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $232 in Bauru and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 34% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $22.00 in Bauru vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $160 vs $188 per month, with Bauru cheaper across the board.

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
Bauru vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bauru or Medellin?
Bauru wins on cost – living expenses run 57% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bauru the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bauru or Medellin?
On paper, Medellin earns 34% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bauru vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $232 in Bauru versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Bauru vs Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Bauru – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Bauru compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $644 per month in Bauru versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 57% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bauru or Medellin?
At $644 in Bauru versus $1,013 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bauru but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Bauru the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bauru or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bauru delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $644 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bauru hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bauru gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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