Cost of Living Comparison Between Boa Vista and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Boa Vista and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $841 per month in Boa Vista vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Boa Vista vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,804 per month in Boa Vista vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Boa Vista is about 17% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Boa Vista and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Boa Vista 37% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Boa Vista
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.46 R$27.65
$5.95 COP 20.8K
-8.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.51 R$139
$33.33 COP 116.3K
-17.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.19 R$31.31
$7.23 COP 25.2K
-14.38%
Cappuccino
$1.81 R$9.17
$1.63 COP 5,687
11.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 R$5.41
$1.09 COP 3,821
-1.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 R$3.16
$0.73 COP 2,548
-15.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.83 R$9.28
$1.74 COP 6,065
5.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 R$13.54
$3.23 COP 11.3K
-17.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Boa Vista
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 R$5.06
$1.05 COP 3,662
-4.76%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 R$7.31
$1.29 COP 4,515
11.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.06 R$5.39
$1.32 COP 4,617
-19.70%
Eggs
$2.43 R$12.30
$2.27 COP 7,927
7.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.81 R$44.61
$4.35 COP 15.2K
102.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.74 R$18.95
$5.88 COP 20.5K
-36.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.23 R$56.9
$8.61 COP 30.0K
30.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.07 R$10.50
$2.25 COP 7,844
-8.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 R$5.58
$1.07 COP 3,733
2.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.55 R$7.84
$1.52 COP 5,322
1.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.47 R$7.42
$1.42 COP 4,964
3.52%
Potato (1kg)
$0.88 R$4.45
$1.17 COP 4,084
-24.79%
Onion (1kg)
$0.94 R$4.78
$1.17 COP 4,077
-19.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 R$3.76
$0.89 COP 3,096
-16.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 R$3.12
$0.90 COP 3,146
-31.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.12 R$10.72
$2.25 COP 7,837
-5.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.45 R$88.3
$11.04 COP 38.5K
58.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 R$6.20
$1.14 COP 3,977
7.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 R$10.09
$2.38 COP 8,301
-16.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Boa Vista
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 R$4.40
$0.84 COP 2,916
3.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.84 R$192
$41.95 COP 146.4K
-9.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.11 R$5.60
$1.41 COP 4,912
-21.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.71 R$3.62
$1.90 COP 6,634
-62.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.47 R$32.78
$7.75 COP 27.0K
-16.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 R$5.55
$1.01 COP 3,509
8.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K R$106.0K
$17.6K COP 61.4M
19.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K R$142.4K
$26.5K COP 92.5M
6.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Boa Vista
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$59.5 R$301
$83.7 COP 292.1K
-28.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.33 R$103
$9.45 COP 33.0K
115.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.53 R$144
$24.11 COP 84.1K
18.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Boa Vista
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.98 R$152
$25.31 COP 88.3K
18.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.83 R$111
$19.14 COP 66.8K
14.05%
Cinema Ticket
$5.34 R$27.06
$4.10 COP 14.3K
30.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Boa Vista
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$265 R$1,341
$312 COP 1.1M
-15.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,539 R$33.1K
$5,993 COP 20.9M
9.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Boa Vista
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.41 R$245
$58.0 COP 202.6K
-16.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.75 R$211
$32.56 COP 113.6K
28.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.2 R$381
$99.6 COP 347.7K
-24.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.6 R$327
$109 COP 378.8K
-40.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Boa Vista
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$310 R$1,569
$482 COP 1.7M
-35.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$238 R$1,207
$379 COP 1.3M
-37.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$591 R$2,993
$837 COP 2.9M
-29.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$436 R$2,205
$723 COP 2.5M
-39.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$772 R$3,907
$2,840 COP 9.9M
-72.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$767 R$3,884
$1,223 COP 4.3M
-37.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Boa Vista
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$623 R$3,153
$541 COP 1.9M
15.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.92
13.43
-18.69%

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

Last update for Boa Vista: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $310 in Boa Vista versus $482 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 15% higher in Boa Vista, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Boa Vista versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $208 in Boa Vista vs $190 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Boa Vista vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Boa Vista or Medellin?
Medellin costs about 21% more than Boa Vista, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Boa Vista vs Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,261 per month in Boa Vista and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Boa Vista or Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Boa Vista, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Boa Vista compared to Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $841 in Boa Vista and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Boa Vista vs Medellin?
Public transport costs about 11% less in Boa Vista. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Boa Vista or Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Boa Vista, where all-in costs run around $841, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Boa Vista it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Boa Vista or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Boa Vista costs $841 versus $1,017 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Boa Vista or Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Boa Vista. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Boa Vista vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities