Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bertioga

For one person, living is cheaper in Bertioga: $785 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $10,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Bertioga, Brazil
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Bertioga
🇧🇷 Brazil
$785
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Bertioga

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 Bertioga actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,639 in Medellin versus $785 in Bertioga.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Bertioga $785

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,413 in Medellin versus $1,226 in Bertioga.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Bertioga $1,226

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,186 in Medellin versus $1,668 in Bertioga.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Bertioga $1,668

Living in Medellin is roughly 109% more expensive than in Bertioga, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 20% above, Bertioga is 42% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bertioga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.6K
$5.61 R$30.01
44.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 148.9K
$16.92 R$90.4
178.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$8.33 R$44.53
14.05%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,540
$2.20 R$11.76
36.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,693
$1.19 R$6.36
51.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,469
$0.88 R$4.69
60.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$2.29 R$12.24
38.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.2K
$3.67 R$19.61
56.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bertioga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,778
$0.81 R$4.32
86.42%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,524
$1.30 R$6.94
83.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,606
$1.18 R$6.31
50.00%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,146
$1.22 R$6.50
136.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.2K
$9.39 R$50.2
8.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.2K
$3.43 R$18.33
187.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.3K
$7.50 R$40.11
86.53%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.6K
$2.22 R$11.87
78.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,911
$0.86 R$4.60
80.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,907
$0.92 R$4.89
136.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,910
$0.98 R$5.22
122.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,210
$0.96 R$5.13
104.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,029
$0.77 R$4.12
106.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,625
$0.58 R$3.11
98.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,934
$0.55 R$2.93
125.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.5K
$2.33 R$12.47
69.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.3K
$4.78 R$25.57
186.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,252
$1.41 R$7.56
17.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,145
$2.36 R$12.63
-4.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bertioga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,696
$0.94 R$5.05
24.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 244.8K
$39.18 R$209
97.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,013
$1.09 R$5.85
16.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,480
$0.72 R$3.86
184.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.1K
$7.82 R$41.82
9.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,262
$1.24 R$6.61
8.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 107.8M
$21.8K R$116.6K
56.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.7M
$31.2K R$167.0K
10.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bertioga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 536.8K
$61.2 R$327
177.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.9K
$9.13 R$48.82
48.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.8K
$16.35 R$87.4
71.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bertioga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 138.3K
$24.42 R$131
78.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.4K
$27.88 R$149
-38.34%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.9K
$7.37 R$39.39
-6.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bertioga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
$73.3 R$392
987.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.8M
$10.3K R$55.0K
-11.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bertioga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 268.1K
$56.1 R$300
51.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 183.4K
$45.79 R$245
26.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 427.1K
$54.7 R$292
146.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 309.7K
$72.3 R$386
35.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bertioga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$330 R$1,765
265.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$227 R$1,212
182.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$628 R$3,360
222.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$452 R$2,415
123.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.2M
$1,364 R$7,290
205.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.0M
$1,242 R$6,637
53.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bertioga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
-
-
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: October 25, 2026

Last update for Bertioga: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Bertioga
$227 64.7% $415
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Bertioga
$158 46.8% $139
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Bertioga
$87 59% $125
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Bertioga
$123 27.3% $46
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Bertioga
$103 39.1% $66
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Bertioga
$48 49% $46
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Bertioga
$39 31.9% $18

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,208 in Medellin and $330 in Bertioga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47 in Medellin vs $17 in Bertioga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $158 per month, with Bertioga cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇧🇷 Bertioga
🕒 Local time
00:05 12:05 AM
02:05 2:05 AM
2 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
64,188
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 3,164 COP (10,000 COP = 3.16 USD). 1 EUR = 3,523 COP (10,000 COP = 2.84 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 5.35 BRL (1 BRL = 0.187 USD). 1 EUR = 5.95 BRL (1 BRL = 0.168 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Bertioga 4,630 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Bertioga

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 Bertioga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bertioga cheaper than Medellin?
Bertioga is about 52% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $2,459 in Medellin and $1,177 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: $1,208 in Medellin versus $330 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 88% 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 $17 versus $47 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Bertioga?
At $785 in Bertioga versus $1,639 in Medellin, a $1,000 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 it better to live in Medellin or in Bertioga?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Bertioga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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