🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,010 in Florianopolis versus $1,031 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,613 in Florianopolis versus $1,599 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,217 in Florianopolis versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Florianopolis costs roughly 2% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Florianopolis24% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.28R$37.22
$6.16COP 20.0K
18.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.65R$182
$32.60COP 106.0K
9.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.35R$32.44
$7.34COP 23.9K
-13.49%
Cappuccino
$1.94R$9.92
$1.72COP 5,592
12.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19R$6.11
$1.05COP 3,416
13.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78R$3.97
$0.77COP 2,511
1.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.20R$11.23
$1.69COP 5,480
30.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63R$13.43
$3.17COP 10.3K
-17.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.89R$4.55
$1.05COP 3,418
-15.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50R$7.68
$1.30COP 4,230
15.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17R$5.97
$1.40COP 4,538
-16.43%
Eggs
$2.18R$11.14
$2.16COP 7,037
0.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.62R$49.17
$4.39COP 14.3K
119.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.38R$17.26
$5.88COP 19.1K
-42.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.18R$41.82
$8.64COP 28.1K
-5.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24R$11.44
$2.28COP 7,415
-1.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.23R$6.29
$1.11COP 3,599
10.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.23R$6.30
$1.53COP 4,976
-19.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.85R$9.45
$1.35COP 4,405
37.04%
Potato(1kg)
$1.09R$5.58
$1.13COP 3,669
-3.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10R$5.64
$1.13COP 3,687
-2.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80R$4.08
$0.85COP 2,749
-5.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82R$4.17
$0.91COP 2,971
-9.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.19R$11.20
$2.34COP 7,619
-6.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.66R$44.26
$12.37COP 40.2K
-29.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48R$7.57
$1.20COP 3,904
23.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82R$14.42
$2.49COP 8,094
13.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05R$5.36
$0.84COP 2,724
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.17R$185
$40.57COP 131.9K
-10.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48R$7.56
$1.42COP 4,617
4.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35R$6.91
$1.92COP 6,227
-29.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.77R$39.70
$7.66COP 24.9K
1.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08R$5.50
$0.99COP 3,219
9.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4KR$135.0K
$18.0KCOP 58.6M
46.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9KR$152.7K
$26.6KCOP 86.6M
12.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.8R$331
$80.8COP 262.7K
-19.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.19R$77.7
$9.95COP 32.3K
52.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.77R$106
$24.18COP 78.6K
-14.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.54R$171
$25.08COP 81.5K
33.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61R$95.1
$19.15COP 62.3K
-2.82%
Cinema Ticket
$7.29R$37.27
$3.98COP 13.0K
83.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$455R$2,327
$305COP 992.2K
49.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,287R$47.5K
$6,059COP 19.7M
53.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.4R$339
$58.1COP 189.0K
14.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.0R$332
$32.20COP 104.7K
101.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.7R$428
$101COP 327.5K
-16.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.6R$304
$108COP 350.3K
-44.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$512R$2,616
$477COP 1.5M
7.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$369R$1,888
$376COP 1.2M
-1.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$980R$5,006
$845COP 2.7M
15.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$753R$3,849
$730COP 2.4M
3.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,816R$14.4K
$3,215COP 10.5M
-12.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,624R$8,301
$1,372COP 4.5M
18.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$909R$4,645
$617COP 2.0M
47.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.12
13.43
-9.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Florianopolis: July 11, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $512 in Florianopolis and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Florianopolis pays 47% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Florianopolis vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $189 vs $193, with Florianopolis cheaper for home cooking.
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
Florianopolis vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Florianopolis or Medellin?
Florianopolis wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Florianopolis the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Florianopolis or in Medellin?
Average pay runs 47% higher in Florianopolis, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Florianopolis compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $512 in Florianopolis versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Florianopolis and in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Florianopolis – a meal for two runs $36.00 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 Florianopolis compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,010 per month in Florianopolis versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Florianopolis or in Medellin?
At $1,010 in Florianopolis versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Florianopolis but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Florianopolis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Florianopolis or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Florianopolis delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,010 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Florianopolis hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Florianopolis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Florianopolis vs other spots: cost of living compared