Cost of Living Comparison Between Foz do Iguaçu and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Foz do Iguaçu and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $895 per month in Foz do Iguaçu vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,341 per month in Foz do Iguaçu vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,787 per month in Foz do Iguaçu vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Foz do Iguaçu is about 47% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Foz do Iguaçu sits 35% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Foz do Iguaçu
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.72 R$29.49
$8.02 COP 25.0K
-28.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.62 R$199
$47.87 COP 149.4K
-19.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.84 R$35.22
$9.89 COP 30.8K
-30.84%
Cappuccino
$1.85 R$9.51
$3.13 COP 9,767
-40.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 R$6.93
$1.91 COP 5,954
-29.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 R$2.84
$1.51 COP 4,712
-63.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.55 R$7.97
$3.12 COP 9,747
-50.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 R$15.25
$5.75 COP 17.9K
-48.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Foz do Iguaçu
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 R$4.68
$1.44 COP 4,509
-36.81%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 R$7.55
$2.49 COP 7,759
-41.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.59 R$8.19
$1.77 COP 5,535
-10.17%
Eggs
$2.70 R$13.90
$2.96 COP 9,235
-8.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.17 R$42.10
$10.07 COP 31.4K
-18.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.94 R$20.32
$10.12 COP 31.6K
-61.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.44 R$43.47
$14.30 COP 44.6K
-40.98%
Apples (1kg)
$2.08 R$10.73
$4.14 COP 12.9K
-49.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.16 R$5.96
$1.61 COP 5,019
-27.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.93 R$4.80
$2.25 COP 7,007
-58.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.20 R$6.17
$2.25 COP 7,028
-46.67%
Potato (1kg)
$0.93 R$4.77
$2.04 COP 6,375
-54.41%
Onion (1kg)
$1.05 R$5.43
$1.54 COP 4,790
-31.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.86 R$4.42
$1.17 COP 3,651
-26.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 R$4.10
$1.31 COP 4,077
-38.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.80 R$14.41
$3.90 COP 12.2K
-28.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.65 R$39.43
$14.01 COP 43.7K
-45.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 R$9.14
$1.74 COP 5,439
1.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 R$14.56
$2.87 COP 8,956
-1.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Foz do Iguaçu
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.00 R$5.17
$1.22 COP 3,792
-18.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.82 R$257
$80.5 COP 251.1K
-38.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.95 R$4.89
$1.31 COP 4,084
-27.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 R$7.16
$2.19 COP 6,825
-36.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.71 COP 27.2K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 R$6.35
$1.37 COP 4,260
-10.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K R$101.5K
$27.8K COP 86.9M
-29.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$35.8K COP 111.6M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Foz do Iguaçu
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.7 R$359
$177 COP 553.2K
-60.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.78 R$96.8
$13.88 COP 43.3K
35.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.28 R$99.3
$29.72 COP 92.8K
-35.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Foz do Iguaçu
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.48 R$100
$44.88 COP 140.1K
-56.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.72 R$29.48
$17.12 COP 53.4K
-66.59%
Cinema Ticket
$8.65 R$44.55
$6.65 COP 20.7K
30.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Foz do Iguaçu
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$237 R$1,220
$813 COP 2.5M
-70.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$9,187 COP 28.7M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Foz do Iguaçu
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.16 R$238
$89.5 COP 279.3K
-48.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.43 R$89.8
$59.0 COP 184.0K
-70.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$48.44 R$250
$138 COP 431.2K
-64.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$37.49 R$193
$102 COP 318.7K
-63.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Foz do Iguaçu
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$365 R$1,879
$1,062 COP 3.3M
-65.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$312 R$1,610
$663 COP 2.1M
-52.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$695 R$3,581
$1,888 COP 5.9M
-63.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$494 R$2,547
$1,027 COP 3.2M
-51.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,254 R$6,460
$4,183 COP 13.1M
-70.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$889 R$4,581
$1,675 COP 5.2M
-46.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Foz do Iguaçu
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$398 R$2,052
$678 COP 2.1M
-41.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.16
10.94
-25.41%

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

Last update for Foz do Iguaçu: September 15, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $365 in Foz do Iguaçu versus $1,062 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 70% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Foz do Iguaçu versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $305 – making Foz do Iguaçu 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
Foz do Iguaçu vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Foz do Iguaçu and in Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $895 in Foz do Iguaçu, $1,681 in Medellin – roughly 88% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Foz do Iguaçu compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,342 per month in Foz do Iguaçu and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Foz do Iguaçu and Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Foz do Iguaçu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Foz do Iguaçu and Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $237 per month in Foz do Iguaçu and $813 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 64% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Foz do Iguaçu, where all-in costs run around $895, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Foz do Iguaçu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Foz do Iguaçu and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $895 in Foz do Iguaçu to $1,681 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Foz do Iguaçu and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Foz do Iguaçu. 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.

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