🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,227 in Florianopolis versus $1,716 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,968 in Florianopolis versus $2,527 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,709 in Florianopolis versus $3,338 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Florianopolis costs roughly 28% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Florianopolis is 11% below, Medellin is 25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.59R$43.73
$8.03COP 25.3K
6.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.34R$236
$48.26COP 152.0K
-3.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.60R$38.69
$9.77COP 30.8K
-22.21%
Cappuccino
$2.38R$12.11
$2.91COP 9,167
-18.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32R$6.72
$1.94COP 6,122
-31.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03R$5.24
$1.52COP 4,792
-32.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.85R$14.52
$3.09COP 9,740
-7.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39R$17.28
$5.74COP 18.1K
-40.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04R$5.29
$1.36COP 4,296
-23.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57R$7.98
$2.39COP 7,519
-34.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23R$6.26
$1.70COP 5,356
-27.65%
Eggs
$2.54R$12.94
$2.87COP 9,038
-11.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.21R$46.88
$9.94COP 31.3K
-7.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.03R$20.53
$10.78COP 34.0K
-62.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.67R$49.24
$14.73COP 46.4K
-34.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.23R$11.37
$4.09COP 12.9K
-45.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21R$6.18
$1.57COP 4,950
-22.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.47R$7.51
$2.13COP 6,695
-30.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59R$8.11
$2.21COP 6,972
-28.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.05R$5.34
$2.05COP 6,447
-48.78%
Onion(1kg)
$0.89R$4.53
$1.50COP 4,737
-40.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83R$4.23
$1.19COP 3,747
-30.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71R$3.63
$1.16COP 3,647
-38.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.86R$14.56
$3.90COP 12.3K
-26.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.83R$50.1
$14.44COP 45.5K
-31.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43R$7.30
$1.58COP 4,987
-9.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77R$14.08
$2.83COP 8,905
-2.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.38R$7.02
$1.17COP 3,679
17.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.8R$406
$77.7COP 244.8K
2.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.57R$8.00
$1.28COP 4,045
22.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52R$7.76
$2.09COP 6,589
-27.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.60R$59.1
$8.62COP 27.1K
34.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26R$6.41
$1.30COP 4,088
-3.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0KR$142.5K
$27.7KCOP 87.1M
1.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9KR$167.6K
$35.5KCOP 111.8M
-7.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7R$426
$176COP 554.5K
-52.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.11R$61.7
$13.37COP 42.1K
-9.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.57R$110
$29.89COP 94.1K
-27.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.71R$151
$44.76COP 141.0K
-33.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.31R$93.3
$17.06COP 53.7K
7.33%
Cinema Ticket
$7.83R$39.86
$6.20COP 19.5K
26.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$692R$3,525
$793COP 2.5M
-12.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3KR$52.6K
$9,019COP 28.4M
14.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.7R$324
$85.6COP 269.6K
-25.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.5R$344
$58.5COP 184.1K
15.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109R$553
$136COP 429.3K
-20.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.8R$340
$103COP 324.7K
-35.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$665R$3,386
$1,060COP 3.3M
-37.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477R$2,428
$680COP 2.1M
-29.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,290R$6,572
$2,012COP 6.3M
-35.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,037R$5,281
$1,169COP 3.7M
-11.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,753R$14.0K
$4,111COP 12.9M
-33.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,615R$8,225
$1,701COP 5.4M
-5.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$977R$4,976
$665COP 2.1M
46.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.61
10.94
-3.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Florianopolis: September 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $665 in Florianopolis and $1,060 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: $46.00 in Florianopolis vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $303 per month, with Florianopolis 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
Florianopolis vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Florianopolis or Medellin?
Florianopolis wins on cost – living expenses run 40% 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: $665 in Florianopolis versus $1,060 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 $46.00 versus $48.00 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 $1,227 per month in Florianopolis versus $1,716 in Medellin – a 40% 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 $1,227 in Florianopolis versus $1,716 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 $1,227 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 40% 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