Cost of Living Comparison Between Fortaleza and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Fortaleza and Medellin

🙂 Solo nomad: Fortaleza is 9% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 19.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Fortaleza is 4% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 16.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fortaleza
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.29 R$29.38
$6.23 COP 26K
-15.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.85 R$188
$32.34 COP 134.8K
4.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.88 R$38.18
$7.39 COP 30.8K
-6.90%
Cappuccino
$2.13 R$11.85
$1.72 COP 7,155
23.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 R$6.12
$1.1 COP 4,575
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 R$3.48
$0.73 COP 3,060
-13.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.96 R$10.86
$1.66 COP 6,916
18.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 R$20.55
$3.2 COP 13.3K
15.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fortaleza
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 R$6.28
$1.09 COP 4,552
3.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 R$10.47
$1.24 COP 5,188
52.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 R$6.25
$1.33 COP 5,544
-15.04%
Eggs
$1.8 R$10
$2.22 COP 9,252
-18.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.99 R$38.81
$4.55 COP 19K
53.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.31 R$18.37
$5.71 COP 23.8K
-42.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.87 R$43.71
$8.59 COP 35.8K
-8.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.53 R$14.06
$2.26 COP 9,410
11.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.19 R$6.63
$1.07 COP 4,461
11.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.79 R$4.36
$1.51 COP 6,293
-47.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 R$8.09
$1.42 COP 5,911
2.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.3 R$7.23
$1.11 COP 4,619
17.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.05 R$5.83
$1.18 COP 4,932
-11.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.96 R$5.33
$0.89 COP 3,718
7.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 R$4.31
$0.84 COP 3,507
-7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.16 R$11.97
$2.35 COP 9,809
-8.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.35 R$35.25
$9.34 COP 38.9K
-32.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 R$7.45
$1.18 COP 4,927
13.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 R$8.59
$2.49 COP 10.4K
-37.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Fortaleza
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 R$4.67
$0.83 COP 3,464
1.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.51 R$169
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-27.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.05 R$5.84
$1.41 COP 5,899
-25.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.75 R$4.15
$1.96 COP 8,164
-61.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.04 R$33.5
$7.85 COP 32.7K
-23.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 R$6.05
$1.02 COP 4,265
6.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4K R$113.3K
$17.6K COP 73.4M
15.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K R$153.8K
$26.2K COP 109.2M
5.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fortaleza
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$109 R$605
$82.5 COP 344.1K
31.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.68 R$87
$9.44 COP 39.4K
66.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.07 R$100
$23.51 COP 98K
-23.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fortaleza
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.42 R$124
$25.68 COP 107.1K
-12.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$42.68 R$237
$19.14 COP 79.8K
122.99%
Cinema Ticket
$6.35 R$35.27
$3.96 COP 16.5K
60.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fortaleza
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$228 R$1,263
$305 COP 1.3M
-25.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,176 R$12.1K
$5,925 COP 24.7M
-63.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fortaleza
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.64 R$270
$57.9 COP 241.4K
-15.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.27 R$246
$31.59 COP 131.7K
40.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.1 R$500
$103 COP 430.1K
-12.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.3 R$318
$106 COP 440.5K
-45.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fortaleza
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$314 R$1,744
$489 COP 2M
-35.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$197 R$1,091
$379 COP 1.6M
-48.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$370 R$2,055
$827 COP 3.4M
-55.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$347 R$1,927
$729 COP 3M
-52.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,397 R$7,756
$2,190 COP 9.1M
-36.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$781 R$4,335
$1,532 COP 6.4M
-49.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fortaleza
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$348 R$1,933
$550 COP 2.3M
-36.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.79
13.43
-12.21%

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

Last update for Fortaleza: October 29, 2025

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

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