πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,007 in Florianopolis versus $1,013 in Medellin.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,615 in Florianopolis versus $1,602 in Medellin.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,224 in Florianopolis versus $2,192 in Medellin.
πLiving in Florianopolis costs roughly 1% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Florianopolis25% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.09R$35.46
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
18.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.57R$178
$32.86COPΒ 117.4K
8.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.40R$32.01
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
-9.73%
Cappuccino
$2.02R$10.10
$1.71COPΒ 6,115
18.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20R$6.00
$1.10COPΒ 3,924
9.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77R$3.84
$0.78COPΒ 2,781
-1.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.19R$10.95
$1.68COPΒ 5,997
30.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69R$13.45
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
-12.38%
π Groceries & Markets
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.95R$4.74
$1.09COPΒ 3,906
-12.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.53R$7.64
$1.26COPΒ 4,508
21.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18R$5.90
$1.38COPΒ 4,922
-14.49%
Eggs
$2.14R$10.70
$2.19COPΒ 7,827
-2.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.51R$47.60
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
116.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43R$17.19
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
-39.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.10R$40.55
$8.89COPΒ 31.8K
-8.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.22R$11.12
$2.34COPΒ 8,349
-5.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.30R$6.48
$1.06COPΒ 3,777
22.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.25R$6.25
$1.50COPΒ 5,374
-16.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.90R$9.49
$1.38COPΒ 4,924
37.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.10R$5.49
$1.15COPΒ 4,111
-4.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.11R$5.57
$1.16COPΒ 4,155
-4.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.87R$4.34
$0.89COPΒ 3,182
-2.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81R$4.06
$0.84COPΒ 2,997
-3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23R$11.17
$2.28COPΒ 8,145
-2.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.04R$45.25
$10.64COPΒ 38.0K
-15.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49R$7.46
$1.20COPΒ 4,284
24.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80R$14.03
$2.47COPΒ 8,824
13.36%
π Getting Around
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.11R$5.57
$0.86COPΒ 3,056
29.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.07R$180
$41.40COPΒ 147.9K
-12.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41R$7.08
$1.47COPΒ 5,264
-4.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39R$6.98
$1.96COPΒ 7,009
-29.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.44R$37.25
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
-3.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13R$5.66
$0.95COPΒ 3,409
18.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6KR$128.2K
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.7M
41.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.8KR$144.4K
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.6M
8.91%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.7R$324
$82.3COPΒ 293.7K
-21.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.90R$74.6
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
56.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.27R$101
$24.23COPΒ 86.5K
-16.34%
π Sport & Entertainment
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.34R$167
$25.89COPΒ 92.4K
28.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.88R$94.5
$19.00COPΒ 67.9K
-0.63%
Cinema Ticket
$7.46R$37.35
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
89.82%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$462R$2,311
$309COPΒ 1.1M
49.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,279R$46.4K
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
55.55%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.5R$333
$58.7COPΒ 209.5K
13.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.3R$317
$32.35COPΒ 115.5K
95.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.6R$418
$103COPΒ 366.4K
-18.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.3R$297
$108COPΒ 387.2K
-45.29%
π Accommodation & Living
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$498R$2,493
$476COPΒ 1.7M
4.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$377R$1,885
$379COPΒ 1.4M
-0.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$957R$4,787
$838COPΒ 3.0M
14.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$748R$3,745
$724COPΒ 2.6M
3.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,778R$13.9K
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
-0.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,569R$7,850
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
29.49%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Florianopolis
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$908R$4,542
$512COPΒ 1.8M
77.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.12
13.43
-9.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Florianopolis: June 2, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $498 in Florianopolis and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Florianopolis pays 77% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $36.00 in Florianopolis vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $191 vs $188 per month, with Medellin 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 β living expenses run 1% 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 Medellin?
Florianopolis pays 77% more on average, 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 vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $498 in Florianopolis versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Florianopolis vs Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Florianopolis β 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 $1,007 per month in Florianopolis versus $1,013 in Medellin β a 1% 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 Medellin?
At $1,007 in Florianopolis versus $1,013 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 β similar infrastructure at $1,007 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 β expenses run 1% 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