Cost of Living Comparison Between Caxias do Sul and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Caxias do Sul and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $661 per month in Caxias do Sul vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,085 per month in Caxias do Sul vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,509 per month in Caxias do Sul vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Caxias do Sul is about 35% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Caxias do Sul and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Caxias do Sul 51% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.33 R$32.05

$5.99 COP 21.4K

5.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.77 R$135

$32.86 COP 117.2K

-18.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.35 R$32.11

$7.09 COP 25.3K

-10.44%

Cappuccino

$1.28 R$6.47

$1.71 COP 6,105

-25.15%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 R$5.63

$1.10 COP 3,918

0.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 R$3.34

$0.78 COP 2,776

-15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.84 R$9.30

$1.68 COP 5,987

9.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 R$17.97

$3.07 COP 10.9K

15.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 R$4.11

$1.09 COP 3,899

-25.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 R$6.45

$1.26 COP 4,500

0.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 R$4.35

$1.38 COP 4,914

-37.68%

Eggs

$1.73 R$8.77

$2.19 COP 7,813

-21.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.40 R$32.40

$4.40 COP 15.7K

45.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 R$17.19

$5.63 COP 20.1K

-39.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.93 R$40.14

$8.89 COP 31.7K

-10.80%

Apples (1kg)

$1.43 R$7.23

$2.34 COP 8,334

-38.89%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 R$4.66

$1.06 COP 3,771

-13.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.52 R$2.65

$1.50 COP 5,365

-65.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 R$7.27

$1.38 COP 4,915

4.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 R$4.50

$1.15 COP 4,104

-22.61%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 R$3.30

$1.16 COP 4,148

-43.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 R$3.57

$0.89 COP 3,176

-20.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 R$2.98

$0.84 COP 2,992

-29.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 R$10.02

$2.28 COP 8,131

-13.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.08 R$20.62

$10.64 COP 37.9K

-61.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 R$5.01

$1.20 COP 4,276

-17.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 R$9.48

$2.47 COP 8,809

-24.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.24 R$6.26

$0.86 COP 3,051

44.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.38 R$204

$41.40 COP 147.6K

-2.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 R$8.04

$1.47 COP 5,255

8.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 R$5.36

$1.96 COP 6,997

-45.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.38 R$27.24

$7.74 COP 27.6K

-30.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 R$5.28

$0.95 COP 3,403

9.47%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.7K R$125.1K

$18.1K COP 64.6M

36.34%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.2K R$137.6K

$26.5K COP 94.4M

2.66%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$50.7 R$256

$82.3 COP 293.2K

-38.40%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.39 R$72.8

$9.50 COP 33.9K

51.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.21 R$92.1

$24.23 COP 86.4K

-24.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.09 R$122

$25.89 COP 92.3K

-6.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.3 R$269

$19.00 COP 67.7K

180.32%

Cinema Ticket

$6.25 R$31.64

$3.93 COP 14.0K

59.03%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$314 R$1,587

$309 COP 1.1M

1.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,080 R$35.8K

$5,965 COP 21.3M

18.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.85 R$217

$58.7 COP 209.1K

-26.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.19 R$198

$32.35 COP 115.3K

21.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.9 R$409

$103 COP 365.7K

-21.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.1 R$324

$108 COP 386.5K

-40.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$179 R$903

$476 COP 1.7M

-62.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 R$737

$379 COP 1.4M

-61.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 R$2,221

$838 COP 3.0M

-47.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$259 R$1,313

$724 COP 2.6M

-64.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,744 R$8,824

$2,791 COP 9.9M

-37.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,242 R$6,282

$1,211 COP 4.3M

2.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$558 R$2,821

$512 COP 1.8M

8.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-25.54%

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

Last update for Caxias do Sul: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $179 in Caxias do Sul versus $476 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 9% higher in Caxias do Sul, 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 $27.00 in Caxias do Sul versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $144 vs $188 – making Caxias do Sul 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

Caxias do Sul vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $661 in Caxias do Sul, $1,013 in Medellin – roughly 53% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $992 per month in Caxias do Sul and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Caxias do Sul, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 3% less in Caxias do Sul. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $314 per month in Caxias do Sul and $309 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Caxias do Sul, where all-in costs run around $661, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Caxias do Sul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $661 in Caxias do Sul to $1,013 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Caxias do Sul. 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.