😐A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $762 in Abaetetuba, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,235 in Abaetetuba, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,707 in Abaetetuba, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 35% more than Abaetetuba, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Medellin and Abaetetuba are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Abaetetuba43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Abaetetuba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$5.27R$26.91
16.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$27.16R$139
20.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$6.47R$33.05
13.45%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,600
$1.71R$8.74
0.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$1.12R$5.74
-6.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$0.63R$3.21
22.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,488
$1.75R$8.92
-3.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$2.63R$13.44
20.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Abaetetuba
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.02R$5.20
2.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$1.52R$7.79
-14.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$1.17R$6.00
19.66%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,047
$2.00R$10.25
8.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$8.38R$42.85
-47.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$3.67R$18.73
60.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$7.46R$38.14
15.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,426
$2.15R$11.00
6.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,604
$1.31R$6.68
-15.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,983
$1.14R$5.84
34.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$1.46R$7.45
-7.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$1.15R$5.86
-1.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$1.05R$5.37
7.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$0.69R$3.52
23.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.61R$3.11
49.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,630
$2.11R$10.78
10.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$7.37R$37.65
67.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$1.22R$6.22
-1.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$1.99R$10.17
25.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Abaetetuba
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,728
$0.88R$4.52
-4.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$38.60R$197
5.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$1.06R$5.43
33.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$0.74R$3.81
159.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$6.29R$32.17
21.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$1.05R$5.35
-5.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$21.0KR$107.5K
-14.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$27.1KR$138.4K
-1.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Abaetetuba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$60.1R$307
34.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$13.65R$69.8
-27.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$19.00R$97.1
27.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Abaetetuba
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.7K
$22.08R$113
13.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$21.88R$112
-12.48%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$6.12R$31.25
-34.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Abaetetuba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.5K
$266R$1,360
14.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$6,402R$32.7K
-5.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Abaetetuba
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$49.02R$251
18.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$41.30R$211
-22.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$76.5R$391
31.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$64.1R$327
68.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Abaetetuba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$314R$1,603
51.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$219R$1,118
71.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$573R$2,927
47.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$427R$2,181
71.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$1,549R$7,917
107.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$1,027R$5,249
33.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Abaetetuba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
10.92
22.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Abaetetuba: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $314 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $27.00 in Abaetetuba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $175 – 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 35%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,143 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 5% less in Abaetetuba. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Medellin and $266 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 $762, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.