Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Avaré

For one person, living is cheaper in Avaré: $782 a month against $1,692 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $10,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Avaré, Brazil
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Avaré
🇧🇷 Brazil
$782
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Avaré

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Avaré actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,692 in Medellin versus $782 in Avaré.

  • Medellin $1,692
  • Avaré $782

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,471 in Medellin versus $1,305 in Avaré.

  • Medellin $2,471
  • Avaré $1,305

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,249 in Medellin versus $1,828 in Avaré.

  • Medellin $3,249
  • Avaré $1,828

Living in Medellin is roughly 116% more expensive than in Avaré, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% above, Avaré is 42% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Avaré
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.34 COP 26.9K
$3.68 R$20.12
126.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.53 COP 150.2K
$46.04 R$251
1.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 COP 30.6K
$4.52 R$24.68
109.51%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 10.1K
$1.91 R$10.42
63.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 COP 5,702
$0.58 R$3.18
205.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 4,599
$0.38 R$2.08
273.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 COP 10.2K
$1.27 R$6.92
148.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 COP 18.4K
$1.82 R$9.95
213.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Avaré
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 COP 4,948
$1.14 R$6.22
34.21%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 COP 7,397
$1.70 R$9.30
34.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 COP 6,279
$1.38 R$7.55
40.58%
Eggs
$3.07 COP 9,900
$1.95 R$10.65
57.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 COP 32.3K
$7.23 R$39.46
38.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 COP 33.7K
$3.23 R$17.66
223.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 COP 45.1K
$6.46 R$35.28
116.10%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 COP 13.1K
$2.62 R$14.32
54.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,934
$1.66 R$9.05
-7.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 COP 6,794
$1.46 R$7.95
43.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 COP 7,405
$1.91 R$10.44
19.90%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 COP 6,810
$1.10 R$5.99
91.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 COP 5,518
$1.16 R$6.34
47.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,778
$1.17 R$6.38
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 5,101
$0.58 R$3.18
172.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 COP 12.6K
$2.77 R$15.11
41.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.04 COP 45.3K
$9.32 R$50.9
50.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 COP 5,688
$0.87 R$4.78
102.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 COP 8,756
$2.37 R$12.94
14.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Avaré
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,809
$0.97 R$5.32
21.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.3 COP 246.3K
$41.65 R$227
83.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 COP 5,833
$1.72 R$9.37
5.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,874
$0.97 R$5.29
119.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.13 COP 26.3K
$9.32 R$50.9
-12.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 COP 4,117
$1.04 R$5.70
23.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K COP 111.2M
$22.0K R$120.3K
56.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.2M
$24.3K R$132.9K
40.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Avaré
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 COP 573.8K
$46.66 R$255
280.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.89 COP 44.8K
$9.27 R$50.6
49.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.74 COP 99.2K
$18.29 R$99.9
68.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Avaré
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.94 COP 135.4K
$24.38 R$133
72.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 COP 54.2K
$26.12 R$143
-35.68%
Cinema Ticket
$7.47 COP 24.1K
$4.96 R$27.09
50.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Avaré
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.6M
$520 R$2,842
51.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K COP 39.7M
$15.6K R$85.0K
-21.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Avaré
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3 COP 278.7K
$60.3 R$329
43.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.3 COP 191.3K
$56.7 R$309
4.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 446.6K
$94.6 R$517
46.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8 COP 319.0K
$85.7 R$468
15.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Avaré
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 COP 4.3M
$342 R$1,866
292.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 COP 2.2M
$225 R$1,230
196.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,976 COP 6.4M
$622 R$3,395
217.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,033 COP 3.3M
$440 R$2,405
134.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,098 COP 13.2M
$1,556 R$8,496
163.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,940 COP 6.3M
$1,159 R$6,328
67.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Avaré
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
11.68
-6.34%

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

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Last update for Avaré: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$667
Avaré
$225 66.2% $442
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$307
Avaré
$182 40.6% $125
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$222
Avaré
$74 66.6% $148
Eating Out
Medellin
$173
Avaré
$80 53.8% $93
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$172
Avaré
$134 22.3% $38
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Avaré
$52 44.2% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Avaré
$34 39.7% $23

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,341 in Medellin and $342 in Avaré. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47 in Medellin vs $46 in Avaré for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $307 vs $182 per month, with Avaré cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇧🇷 Avaré
🕒 Local time
18:17 6:17 PM
20:17 8:17 PM
2 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
92,805
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,610 COP (10,000 COP = 2.77 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 5.46 BRL (1 BRL = 0.183 USD). 1 EUR = 6.11 BRL (1 BRL = 0.164 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Avaré 4,370 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Avaré

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Avaré: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Avaré?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,692 in Medellin and $782 in Avaré, so Avaré is about 54% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Avaré?
You’d need roughly $2,538 in Medellin and $1,173 in Avaré to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Avaré?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,341 in Medellin versus $342 in Avaré. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Avaré?
Childcare runs $790 in Medellin versus $520 in Avaré. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Avaré?
A monthly transit pass in Avaré runs roughly 45% less than in Medellin. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $782 in Avaré versus $1,692 in Medellin, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Avaré but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Avaré the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Avaré?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

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