😐A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $810 in Cachoeira do Sul, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $1,276 in Cachoeira do Sul, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $1,741 in Cachoeira do Sul, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 108% more than Cachoeira do Sul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Cachoeira do Sul is 41% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$4.66R$24.19
69.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$19.43R$101
129.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$6.60R$34.28
40.76%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$2.52R$13.09
15.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$1.38R$7.15
31.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$1.00R$5.20
55.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$2.37R$12.33
37.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$2.85R$14.81
106.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$0.84R$4.35
64.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$0.71R$3.67
245.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$0.92R$4.79
64.13%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$1.73R$8.98
60.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$7.47R$38.77
21.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$4.53R$23.51
135.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$7.35R$38.16
99.05%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$2.38R$12.35
66.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$0.70R$3.64
97.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$0.46R$2.41
400.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$0.89R$4.62
126.97%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$0.93R$4.82
124.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$1.08R$5.60
50.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$0.88R$4.55
22.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$0.36R$1.89
247.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$1.57R$8.14
156.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$5.70R$29.59
136.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$0.91R$4.74
75.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$1.67R$8.67
79.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$1.21R$6.28
-2.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
$44.87R$233
78.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$1.27R$6.59
26.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$0.81R$4.21
162.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$8.14R$42.29
4.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$1.00R$5.22
35.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$22.6KR$117.6K
25.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$32.8KR$170.3K
8.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$72.2R$375
109.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$11.98R$62.2
9.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$20.57R$107
57.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
$24.62R$128
88.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
$23.73R$123
-27.27%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$6.97R$36.19
-7.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$284R$1,477
193.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$6,895R$35.8K
28.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$49.77R$258
79.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$57.4R$298
-3.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$98.7R$513
38.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$72.3R$375
51.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$346R$1,797
175.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$226R$1,174
195.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$628R$3,261
221.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$430R$2,231
167.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
$1,786R$9,277
106.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
$992R$5,153
59.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
11.44
-8.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Cachoeira do Sul: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $346 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 $45.00 in Medellin versus $19.00 in Cachoeira do Sul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $148 – making Cachoeira do Sul the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 108%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,530 per month in Medellin and $1,215 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 $1,687 in Medellin and $810 in Cachoeira do Sul. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 78% 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 $810, than in Medellin at $1,687. 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.