Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Boa Vista Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Boa Vista

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $841 in Boa Vista, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,323 in Boa Vista, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,804 in Boa Vista, rent included.

Medellin costs about 21% more than Boa Vista, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Boa Vista are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Boa Vista 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Boa Vista
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95 COPΒ 20.8K
$5.46 R$27.65
8.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33 COPΒ 116.3K
$27.51 R$139
21.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.23 COPΒ 25.2K
$6.19 R$31.31
16.80%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COPΒ 5,687
$1.81 R$9.17
-9.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,821
$1.07 R$5.41
1.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COPΒ 2,548
$0.62 R$3.16
17.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 COPΒ 6,065
$1.83 R$9.28
-4.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 COPΒ 11.3K
$2.67 R$13.54
20.97%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Boa Vista
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COPΒ 3,662
$1.00 R$5.06
5.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.29 COPΒ 4,515
$1.44 R$7.31
-10.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 COPΒ 4,617
$1.06 R$5.39
24.53%
Eggs
$2.27 COPΒ 7,927
$2.43 R$12.30
-6.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.35 COPΒ 15.2K
$8.81 R$44.61
-50.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COPΒ 20.5K
$3.74 R$18.95
57.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.61 COPΒ 30.0K
$11.23 R$56.9
-23.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.25 COPΒ 7,844
$2.07 R$10.50
8.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COPΒ 3,733
$1.10 R$5.58
-2.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COPΒ 5,322
$1.55 R$7.84
-1.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COPΒ 4,964
$1.47 R$7.42
-3.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 COPΒ 4,084
$0.88 R$4.45
32.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COPΒ 4,077
$0.94 R$4.78
24.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,096
$0.74 R$3.76
20.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COPΒ 3,146
$0.62 R$3.12
45.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 COPΒ 7,837
$2.12 R$10.72
6.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.04 COPΒ 38.5K
$17.45 R$88.3
-36.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 COPΒ 3,977
$1.22 R$6.20
-6.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 COPΒ 8,301
$1.99 R$10.09
19.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Boa Vista
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COPΒ 2,916
$0.87 R$4.40
-3.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.95 COPΒ 146.4K
$37.84 R$192
10.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COPΒ 4,912
$1.11 R$5.60
27.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 COPΒ 6,634
$0.71 R$3.62
167.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.75 COPΒ 27.0K
$6.47 R$32.78
19.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 COPΒ 3,509
$1.10 R$5.55
-8.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COPΒ 61.4M
$20.9K R$106.0K
-16.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 92.5M
$28.1K R$142.4K
-5.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Boa Vista
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.7 COPΒ 292.1K
$59.5 R$301
40.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45 COPΒ 33.0K
$20.33 R$103
-53.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11 COPΒ 84.1K
$28.53 R$144
-15.49%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Boa Vista
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.31 COPΒ 88.3K
$29.98 R$152
-15.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COPΒ 66.8K
$21.83 R$111
-12.32%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COPΒ 14.3K
$5.34 R$27.06
-23.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Boa Vista
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$312 COPΒ 1.1M
$265 R$1,341
17.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,993 COPΒ 20.9M
$6,539 R$33.1K
-8.34%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Boa Vista
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0 COPΒ 202.6K
$48.41 R$245
19.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56 COPΒ 113.6K
$41.75 R$211
-22.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.6 COPΒ 347.7K
$75.2 R$381
32.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 COPΒ 378.8K
$64.6 R$327
68.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Boa Vista
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 COPΒ 1.7M
$310 R$1,569
55.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.3M
$238 R$1,207
59.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$837 COPΒ 2.9M
$591 R$2,993
41.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$723 COPΒ 2.5M
$436 R$2,205
66.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,840 COPΒ 9.9M
$772 R$3,907
267.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,223 COPΒ 4.3M
$767 R$3,884
59.42%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Boa Vista
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$541 COPΒ 1.9M
$623 R$3,153
-13.15%
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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Boa Vista: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $310 in Boa Vista. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 15% higher in Boa Vista, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $28.00 in Boa Vista. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $208 in Boa Vista – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Boa Vista: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Boa Vista?
Medellin costs about 21% more than Boa Vista, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin vs Boa Vista?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,261 in Boa Vista. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Boa Vista?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Boa Vista, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Boa Vista?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $841 in Boa Vista. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Medellin vs Boa Vista?
Public transport costs about 11% less in Boa Vista. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or Boa Vista?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Boa Vista, where all-in costs run around $841, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Boa Vista it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Boa Vista?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Boa Vista costs $841 versus $1,017 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Medellin or Boa Vista?
If budget matters most, go with Boa Vista. 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.

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