🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $889 in Catanduva versus $1,641 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,416 in Catanduva versus $2,447 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,944 in Catanduva versus $3,253 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Catanduva costs roughly 46% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Catanduva is 36% below, Medellin is 19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Catanduva
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.97R$45.99
$8.04COP 24.8K
11.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.19R$175
$48.29COP 148.6K
-29.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.35R$42.83
$9.42COP 29.0K
-11.36%
Cappuccino
$2.20R$11.30
$2.94COP 9,040
-25.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21R$6.22
$1.86COP 5,735
-34.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91R$4.65
$1.46COP 4,479
-37.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.37R$12.16
$3.21COP 9,882
-26.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76R$19.26
$5.71COP 17.6K
-34.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Catanduva
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05R$5.39
$1.44COP 4,428
-27.08%
White Bread(500g)
$2.10R$10.79
$2.40COP 7,389
-12.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34R$6.88
$1.70COP 5,228
-21.18%
Eggs
$1.89R$9.67
$2.89COP 8,896
-34.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.15R$57.1
$10.06COP 30.9K
10.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.77R$24.43
$9.97COP 30.7K
-52.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.34R$53.0
$14.20COP 43.7K
-27.18%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38R$12.19
$3.98COP 12.3K
-40.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31R$6.71
$1.58COP 4,878
-17.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53R$7.85
$2.15COP 6,624
-28.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.75R$3.84
$2.30COP 7,078
-67.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01R$5.16
$2.00COP 6,169
-49.50%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99R$5.09
$1.51COP 4,646
-34.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96R$4.92
$1.20COP 3,701
-20.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79R$4.05
$1.28COP 3,946
-38.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.48R$12.70
$3.84COP 11.8K
-35.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88R$40.40
$14.01COP 43.1K
-43.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51R$7.73
$1.71COP 5,256
-11.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44R$12.52
$2.74COP 8,440
-10.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Catanduva
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.95R$4.85
$1.25COP 3,834
-24.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.28R$217
$77.9COP 239.7K
-45.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.19R$6.08
$1.31COP 4,016
-9.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.75R$3.87
$2.17COP 6,680
-65.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.12R$41.64
$8.29COP 25.5K
-2.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12R$5.72
$1.36COP 4,172
-17.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.6KR$115.9K
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
-17.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6KR$162.0K
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-13.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Catanduva
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.8R$332
$169COP 519.2K
-61.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.63R$33.99
$13.57COP 41.8K
-51.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.53R$89.9
$28.32COP 87.2K
-38.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Catanduva
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.28R$130
$45.71COP 140.7K
-44.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.18R$134
$17.22COP 53.0K
52.03%
Cinema Ticket
$6.62R$33.95
$6.65COP 20.5K
-0.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Catanduva
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$429R$2,200
$803COP 2.5M
-46.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,964R$51.1K
$9,190COP 28.3M
8.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Catanduva
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1R$298
$87.4COP 268.8K
-33.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.30R$201
$59.4COP 182.7K
-33.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.3R$463
$139COP 427.5K
-35.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.3R$299
$102COP 314.0K
-42.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Catanduva
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$347R$1,778
$1,071COP 3.3M
-67.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$232R$1,189
$653COP 2.0M
-64.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$652R$3,344
$1,925COP 5.9M
-66.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446R$2,286
$1,048COP 3.2M
-57.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,618R$8,293
$4,123COP 12.7M
-60.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,147R$5,881
$1,697COP 5.2M
-32.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Catanduva
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$655COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.81
10.94
-1.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Catanduva: September 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $347 in Catanduva and $1,071 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in Catanduva vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $209 vs $300 per month, with Catanduva 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
Catanduva vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Catanduva and in Medellin?
Catanduva and Medellin differ by about 85% in total monthly costs ($889 vs $1,641 including rent). Catanduva is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Catanduva compared to Medellin?
You'd need roughly $1,333 in Catanduva and $2,462 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Catanduva and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $347 in Catanduva versus $1,071 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Catanduva – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $889 in Catanduva versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Catanduva but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Catanduva the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Catanduva and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Catanduva or Medellin?
Expats usually find Catanduva gentler on the wallet – expenses run 85% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.