😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $857 in Abaetetuba, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,353 in Abaetetuba, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,848 in Abaetetuba, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 96% more than Abaetetuba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Abaetetuba is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Abaetetuba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.4K
$5.12R$26.33
56.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 152.0K
$31.58R$162
51.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.4K
$7.07R$36.35
39.89%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,937
$2.01R$10.32
55.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,058
$1.23R$6.35
55.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,794
$0.66R$3.39
128.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,917
$1.77R$9.08
76.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.3K
$3.15R$16.20
82.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Abaetetuba
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,587
$1.18R$6.05
22.03%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,894
$1.52R$7.82
63.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,631
$1.37R$7.02
29.20%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,396
$2.22R$11.42
33.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 32.0K
$9.82R$50.5
2.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 32.1K
$4.60R$23.64
120.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.4K
$7.18R$36.91
99.16%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.1K
$2.34R$12.04
76.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,106
$1.22R$6.26
31.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,129
$1.10R$5.65
104.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,150
$1.41R$7.26
59.57%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,486
$1.22R$6.30
67.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,873
$1.00R$5.12
54.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,715
$0.74R$3.83
58.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,148
$0.81R$4.17
61.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.4K
$2.77R$14.25
40.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.5K
$8.19R$42.11
71.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,534
$1.05R$5.42
65.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,112
$1.86R$9.58
54.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Abaetetuba
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,858
$0.87R$4.47
40.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 255.5K
$44.09R$227
82.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,155
$1.28R$6.58
2.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,944
$0.84R$4.30
160.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.7K
$7.66R$39.37
13.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,334
$1.13R$5.81
21.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
$26.5KR$136.1K
5.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
$36.2KR$186.3K
-1.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Abaetetuba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 562.9K
$71.3R$367
148.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 44.1K
$11.02R$56.7
25.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 94.4K
$20.55R$106
44.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Abaetetuba
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 142.5K
$21.70R$112
106.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.4K
$30.73R$158
-44.29%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.1K
$6.07R$31.20
9.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Abaetetuba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$254R$1,306
220.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.2M
$7,221R$37.1K
27.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Abaetetuba
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 284.1K
$45.99R$236
94.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 187.2K
$51.6R$266
14.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 438.8K
$98.3R$505
40.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 324.2K
$79.6R$409
28.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Abaetetuba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.4M
$316R$1,627
235.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$235R$1,211
181.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$642R$3,299
194.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.3M
$461R$2,372
122.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.3M
$1,483R$7,627
182.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$1,051R$5,404
59.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Abaetetuba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.2M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
11.06
-1.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Abaetetuba: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $316 in Abaetetuba. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $32.00 in Abaetetuba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $190 – making Abaetetuba 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
Medellin vs Abaetetuba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abaetetuba cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 96%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,286 in Abaetetuba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Abaetetuba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 83% less in Abaetetuba. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $813 per month in Medellin and $254 in Abaetetuba. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Abaetetuba?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Abaetetuba, where all-in costs run around $857, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Abaetetuba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Abaetetuba more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Abaetetuba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Abaetetuba. 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.