Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Campinas

For one person, living is cheaper in Campinas: $952 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $8,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Campinas, Brazil
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Campinas
🇧🇷 Brazil
$952
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Campinas

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

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $952 in Campinas, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Campinas $952

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $1,625 in Campinas, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Campinas $1,625

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $2,298 in Campinas, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Campinas $2,298

Medellin costs about 72% more than Campinas, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Campinas is 30% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Campinas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.6K
$9.20 R$49.18
-12.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 148.9K
$33.96 R$182
38.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$8.22 R$43.94
15.57%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,540
$2.11 R$11.26
42.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,693
$1.20 R$6.42
50.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,469
$0.84 R$4.49
67.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$2.28 R$12.21
39.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.2K
$3.73 R$19.97
54.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Campinas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,778
$1.00 R$5.34
51.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,524
$1.95 R$10.41
22.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,606
$1.23 R$6.56
43.90%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,146
$2.32 R$12.39
24.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.2K
$10.20 R$54.6
-0.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.2K
$4.62 R$24.73
113.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.3K
$9.64 R$51.5
45.12%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.6K
$2.21 R$11.81
79.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,911
$1.59 R$8.49
-2.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,907
$1.42 R$7.61
53.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,910
$1.26 R$6.75
73.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,210
$1.16 R$6.22
68.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,029
$1.15 R$6.16
38.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,625
$0.93 R$4.95
23.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,934
$0.80 R$4.28
55.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.5K
$2.26 R$12.06
75.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.3K
$7.48 R$40.02
82.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,252
$1.46 R$7.81
13.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,145
$2.41 R$12.90
-6.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Campinas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,696
$1.02 R$5.45
14.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 244.8K
$41.49 R$222
86.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,013
$1.10 R$5.88
15.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,480
$0.67 R$3.61
205.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.1K
$8.23 R$44.02
3.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,262
$1.21 R$6.44
11.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 107.8M
$22.0K R$117.5K
55.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.7M
$31.5K R$168.7K
9.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Campinas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 536.8K
$61.2 R$327
177.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.9K
$13.70 R$73.2
-1.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.8K
$21.56 R$115
30.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Campinas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 138.3K
$26.99 R$144
61.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.4K
$34.77 R$186
-50.56%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.9K
$7.35 R$39.30
-5.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Campinas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
$402 R$2,148
98.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.8M
$10.2K R$54.8K
-11.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Campinas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 268.1K
$61.7 R$330
37.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 183.4K
$52.4 R$280
10.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 427.1K
$82.2 R$439
64.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 309.7K
$73.5 R$393
33.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Campinas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$482 R$2,576
150.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$287 R$1,533
123.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$1,010 R$5,399
100.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$752 R$4,021
34.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.2M
$1,943 R$10.4K
114.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.0M
$1,227 R$6,562
55.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Campinas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$534 R$2,854
23.10%
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 Campinas: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Campinas
$287 55.3% $355
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Campinas
$205 30.9% $92
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Campinas
$96 54.3% $115
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Campinas
$151 11.2% $19
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Campinas
$121 28.2% $48
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Campinas
$50 46.5% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Campinas
$42 27.5% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $482 in Campinas. 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 23% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $34 in Campinas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $205 – making Campinas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇧🇷 Campinas
🕒 Local time
02:32 2:32 AM
04:32 4:32 AM
2 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
1,139,047
💱 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 = 3,531 COP (10,000 COP = 2.83 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 5.35 BRL (1 BRL = 0.187 USD). 1 EUR = 5.97 BRL (1 BRL = 0.168 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Campinas 4,490 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Campinas

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 Campinas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Campinas?
Medellin costs about 72% more than Campinas, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 and in Campinas?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $1,428 in Campinas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Campinas?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Campinas, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Campinas?
Groceries cost about 45% more in Medellin, though the gap depends on what you buy.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Campinas?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $34 in Campinas. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Medellin or in Campinas?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,639 in Medellin and $952 in Campinas. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Campinas?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Campinas costs $952 versus $1,639 in Medellin. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Medellin or to Campinas?
If budget matters most, go with Campinas. If higher salaries 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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