Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cachoeira do Sul

For one person, living is cheaper in Cachoeira do Sul: $855 a month against $1,614 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $9,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Cachoeira do Sul
🇧🇷 Brazil
$855
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Cachoeira do Sul

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 Cachoeira do Sul actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,614 per month in Medellin vs $855 in Cachoeira do Sul, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,614
  • Cachoeira do Sul $855

A couple spends around $2,402 per month in Medellin vs $1,338 in Cachoeira do Sul, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,402
  • Cachoeira do Sul $1,338

A family of three spends $3,190 per month in Medellin vs $1,822 in Cachoeira do Sul, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,190
  • Cachoeira do Sul $1,822

Medellin costs about 89% more than Cachoeira do Sul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Cachoeira do Sul is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.93 COP 25.3K
$5.10 R$25.61
55.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.13 COP 146.9K
$20.07 R$101
129.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.3K
$6.98 R$35.08
36.10%
Cappuccino
$3.11 COP 9,908
$2.49 R$12.53
24.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 COP 5,824
$1.38 R$6.93
32.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,378
$1.05 R$5.27
31.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 COP 9,712
$2.35 R$11.79
29.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50 COP 17.5K
$3.07 R$15.44
79.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 COP 4,619
$0.92 R$4.63
57.61%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 COP 7,527
$0.69 R$3.47
242.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 COP 5,351
$0.99 R$4.97
69.70%
Eggs
$2.86 COP 9,115
$1.82 R$9.15
57.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.4K
$7.61 R$38.25
33.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 COP 30.3K
$4.89 R$24.60
94.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 COP 44.7K
$7.97 R$40.07
76.16%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 COP 13.0K
$2.47 R$12.41
64.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,762
$0.80 R$4.00
87.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 COP 6,920
$0.52 R$2.64
317.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 COP 7,340
$0.89 R$4.45
159.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 COP 6,139
$1.03 R$5.17
87.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 COP 5,218
$1.14 R$5.71
43.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 COP 3,586
$0.94 R$4.72
20.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,971
$0.34 R$1.72
267.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 COP 12.7K
$1.62 R$8.12
146.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 COP 42.5K
$5.88 R$29.56
127.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 COP 5,406
$1.01 R$5.10
68.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 7,557
$1.68 R$8.45
41.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 COP 3,843
$1.20 R$6.05
0.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.5 COP 243.5K
$45.00 R$226
69.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 COP 4,197
$1.33 R$6.70
-0.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 COP 6,802
$0.81 R$4.07
164.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.47 COP 27.0K
$8.14 R$40.92
4.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,132
$0.99 R$4.95
31.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K COP 89.1M
$23.4K R$117.7K
19.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 112.8M
$34.5K R$173.2K
2.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 COP 547.9K
$77.0 R$387
123.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.6K
$12.40 R$62.3
7.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.73 COP 91.5K
$21.56 R$108
33.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.24 COP 144.1K
$26.42 R$133
71.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04 COP 54.3K
$28.21 R$142
-39.60%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 COP 20.0K
$7.18 R$36.11
-12.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$770 COP 2.5M
$555 R$2,791
38.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,011 COP 28.7M
$7,293 R$36.7K
23.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 COP 275.1K
$51.0 R$256
69.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 COP 181.9K
$58.3 R$293
-1.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 434.7K
$104 R$525
30.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 311.7K
$80.0 R$402
22.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 COP 3.4M
$361 R$1,815
192.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 COP 2.0M
$241 R$1,212
155.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 COP 6.0M
$676 R$3,400
179.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 COP 3.3M
$487 R$2,445
110.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,059 COP 12.9M
$1,619 R$8,135
150.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,678 COP 5.3M
$1,128 R$5,671
48.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
11.5
-4.87%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Last update for Cachoeira do Sul: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$616
Cachoeira do Sul
$241 60.8% $375
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$295
Cachoeira do Sul
$156 47.2% $139
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$214
Cachoeira do Sul
$111 48.2% $103
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$170
Cachoeira do Sul
$132 22.3% $38
Eating Out
Medellin
$168
Cachoeira do Sul
$119 29.2% $49
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Cachoeira do Sul
$55 40.8% $38
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Cachoeira do Sul
$41 29.4% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,055 in Medellin versus $361 in Cachoeira do Sul. 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 $46.00 in Medellin versus $20.00 in Cachoeira do Sul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $156 – making Cachoeira do Sul the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇧🇷 Cachoeira do Sul
🕒 Local time
04:10 4:10 AM
06:10 6:10 AM
2 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
80,070
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 3,184 COP (10,000 COP = 3.14 USD). 1 EUR = 3,567 COP (10,000 COP = 2.8 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 5.03 BRL (1 BRL = 0.199 USD). 1 EUR = 5.63 BRL (1 BRL = 0.178 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Cachoeira do Sul 4,710 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Cachoeira do Sul

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 Cachoeira do Sul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cachoeira do Sul cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 89%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,421 per month in Medellin and $1,283 in Cachoeira do Sul. 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 Cachoeira do Sul, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Cachoeira do Sul?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,614 in Medellin and $855 in Cachoeira do Sul. That's a gap of about 89%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 70% less in Cachoeira do Sul. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Cachoeira do Sul?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cachoeira do Sul, where all-in costs run around $855, than in Medellin at $1,614. In Cachoeira do Sul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Cachoeira do Sul more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cachoeira do Sul – 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 Cachoeira do Sul. 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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