🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $753 in Campina Grande versus $1,656 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Campina Grande versus $2,436 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,556 in Campina Grande versus $3,216 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Campina Grande costs roughly 55% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Campina Grande is 44% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Campina Grande
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.29R$22.23
$7.70COP 25.4K
-44.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.66R$154
$47.79COP 157.4K
-37.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.93R$35.94
$9.31COP 30.6K
-25.56%
Cappuccino
$0.95R$4.95
$3.02COP 9,944
-68.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06R$5.51
$1.79COP 5,903
-40.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53R$2.74
$1.50COP 4,933
-64.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.60R$8.27
$3.25COP 10.7K
-50.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11R$10.96
$5.74COP 18.9K
-63.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Campina Grande
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20R$6.25
$1.42COP 4,689
-15.49%
White Bread(500g)
$1.64R$8.48
$2.52COP 8,301
-34.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.06R$5.52
$1.67COP 5,508
-36.53%
Eggs
$1.81R$9.39
$2.82COP 9,290
-35.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.75R$34.99
$10.25COP 33.8K
-34.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.05R$21.00
$9.47COP 31.2K
-57.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.84R$40.68
$13.91COP 45.8K
-43.64%
Apples(1kg)
$1.38R$7.17
$4.12COP 13.6K
-66.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.32R$6.82
$1.56COP 5,126
-15.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.73R$3.78
$2.21COP 7,274
-66.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.21R$6.26
$2.26COP 7,444
-46.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.20R$6.24
$1.99COP 6,542
-39.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07R$5.54
$1.48COP 4,860
-27.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47R$2.46
$1.15COP 3,778
-59.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70R$3.61
$1.24COP 4,093
-43.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.79R$9.31
$3.96COP 13.0K
-54.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.89R$40.92
$13.63COP 44.9K
-42.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11R$5.77
$1.67COP 5,511
-33.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51R$7.82
$2.75COP 9,044
-45.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Campina Grande
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.99R$5.16
$1.17COP 3,847
-15.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.22R$203
$79.5COP 261.9K
-50.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.86R$4.47
$1.28COP 4,212
-32.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73R$3.76
$2.16COP 7,117
-66.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.38R$17.51
$8.28COP 27.3K
-59.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19R$6.15
$1.35COP 4,443
-11.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8KR$97.7K
$27.4KCOP 90.2M
-31.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KR$166.5K
$36.0KCOP 118.7M
-10.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Campina Grande
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$114R$589
$173COP 570.1K
-34.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.62R$49.88
$13.73COP 45.2K
-29.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.42R$90.3
$28.34COP 93.3K
-38.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Campina Grande
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.20R$99.6
$44.27COP 145.8K
-56.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.14R$151
$16.63COP 54.8K
75.23%
Cinema Ticket
$4.87R$25.24
$6.58COP 21.7K
-25.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Campina Grande
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$82.9R$430
$799COP 2.6M
-89.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.8KR$61.1K
$9,089COP 29.9M
29.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Campina Grande
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.60R$190
$87.9COP 289.4K
-58.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.15R$141
$58.5COP 192.6K
-53.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.7R$367
$138COP 455.6K
-48.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.70R$221
$97.5COP 321.0K
-56.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Campina Grande
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$261R$1,354
$1,033COP 3.4M
-74.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$194R$1,007
$646COP 2.1M
-69.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$590R$3,061
$1,847COP 6.1M
-68.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$344R$1,786
$1,026COP 3.4M
-66.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,108COP 13.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,678COP 5.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Campina Grande
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$391R$2,029
$651COP 2.1M
-39.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
10.94
-54.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Campina Grande: September 20, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $261 in Campina Grande and $1,033 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 67% 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: $30.00 in Campina Grande vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $168 vs $297 per month, with Campina Grande 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
Campina Grande vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Campina Grande?
Campina Grande is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 120% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Campina Grande or Medellin?
On paper, salaries run 67% lower in Medellin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Campina Grande and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $261 in Campina Grande versus $1,033 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Campina Grande or in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Campina Grande – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Campina Grande and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $753 per month in Campina Grande versus $1,656 in Medellin – a 120% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Campina Grande or in Medellin?
At $753 in Campina Grande versus $1,656 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Campina Grande but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Campina Grande the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Campina Grande or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Campina Grande is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Campina Grande gentler on the wallet – expenses run 120% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Campina Grande vs other spots: cost of living compared