😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,641 in Medellin versus $836 in Bertioga.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,447 in Medellin versus $1,293 in Bertioga.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,253 in Medellin versus $1,750 in Bertioga.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 96% more expensive than in Bertioga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 19% above, Bertioga is 39% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bertioga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$5.69R$29.16
41.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.7K
$17.82R$91.3
170.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$8.18R$41.95
15.16%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,045
$2.26R$11.57
30.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,738
$1.23R$6.32
51.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,481
$0.84R$4.29
73.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,887
$2.29R$11.75
40.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$3.79R$19.43
50.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bertioga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,431
$0.85R$4.36
69.41%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,393
$1.30R$6.68
84.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,230
$1.28R$6.57
32.81%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,901
$1.27R$6.53
127.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 31.0K
$9.62R$49.31
4.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$3.48R$17.84
186.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$7.91R$40.58
79.52%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$2.39R$12.26
66.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,880
$0.89R$4.59
77.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,627
$0.96R$4.95
123.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,082
$0.93R$4.77
147.31%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,172
$1.00R$5.13
100.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,648
$0.75R$3.85
101.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,703
$0.57R$2.90
110.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,948
$0.61R$3.12
109.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$2.48R$12.71
54.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$5.00R$25.62
180.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,259
$1.47R$7.55
16.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,444
$2.48R$12.71
10.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bertioga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,836
$1.00R$5.15
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.9K
$48.81R$250
59.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,018
$1.18R$6.07
11.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,684
$0.70R$3.61
210.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$8.43R$43.21
-1.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,174
$1.25R$6.42
8.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.6M
$23.6KR$121.1K
16.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.5M
$32.1KR$164.6K
13.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bertioga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.5K
$65.2R$334
158.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$9.50R$48.69
42.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$17.11R$87.7
65.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bertioga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.8K
$25.35R$130
80.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
$26.77R$137
-35.67%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$7.67R$39.34
-13.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bertioga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$77.3R$396
939.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$9,759R$50.0K
-5.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bertioga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 269.0K
$57.9R$297
51.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.8K
$48.30R$248
22.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.7K
$58.1R$298
138.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.2K
$82.8R$425
23.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bertioga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$346R$1,772
209.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$237R$1,216
175.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$644R$3,299
199.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$460R$2,358
127.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
$1,761R$9,027
134.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
$1,068R$5,474
58.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bertioga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
10.81
1.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Bertioga: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,071 in Medellin and $346 in Bertioga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $18.00 in Bertioga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $164 per month, with Bertioga cheaper across the board.
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 Bertioga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bertioga cheaper than Medellin?
Bertioga is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 96% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,462 in Medellin and $1,255 in Bertioga 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.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Bertioga?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,071 in Medellin versus $346 in Bertioga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Bertioga?
Supermarket bills run roughly 83% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Bertioga?
Dining out is cheaper in Bertioga – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Bertioga?
At $836 in Bertioga versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bertioga but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Bertioga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Bertioga more family-friendly?
For families, Bertioga is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Bertioga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 96% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.