πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $758 in Campos dos Goytacazes.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,199 in Campos dos Goytacazes.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $1,640 in Campos dos Goytacazes.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 34% more expensive than Campos dos Goytacazes, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Campos dos Goytacazes44% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Campos dos Goytacazes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
$5.17R$26.19
15.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
$27.48R$139
21.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
$6.18R$31.30
16.99%
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
$1.52R$7.69
7.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
$1.08R$5.48
0.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
$0.60R$3.02
21.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
$1.23R$6.22
41.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
$2.78R$14.06
16.19%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Campos dos Goytacazes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
$0.81R$4.08
29.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
$1.52R$7.70
-15.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
$1.06R$5.35
24.53%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
$1.68R$8.53
35.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
$7.65R$38.75
-43.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
$3.72R$18.85
58.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
$6.40R$32.42
34.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
$2.17R$11.00
3.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
$1.40R$7.07
-23.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
$1.22R$6.18
24.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
$1.60R$8.10
-11.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
$1.18R$5.98
-0.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
$1.44R$7.28
-18.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
$0.57R$2.89
56.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
$0.53R$2.66
69.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
$1.80R$9.09
25.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
$5.63R$28.51
96.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
$0.93R$4.69
22.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
$1.29R$6.52
84.50%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Campos dos Goytacazes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
$0.94R$4.76
-10.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
$38.40R$194
9.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
$1.10R$5.59
28.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
$0.42R$2.11
352.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
$3.85R$19.48
101.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
$1.10R$5.57
-8.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
$25.4KR$128.3K
-30.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
$33.1KR$167.7K
-20.02%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Campos dos Goytacazes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
$62.6R$317
33.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
$10.02R$50.8
-5.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
$13.27R$67.2
81.69%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Campos dos Goytacazes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
$22.78R$115
11.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
$21.43R$109
-10.69%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
$7.59R$38.42
-45.98%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Campos dos Goytacazes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$414R$2,098
-24.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
$6,423R$32.5K
-6.69%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Campos dos Goytacazes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
$37.26R$189
55.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
$54.4R$275
-40.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
$82.9R$420
20.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 378.8K
$69.9R$354
55.21%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Campos dos Goytacazes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$313R$1,584
54.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.3M
$217R$1,097
75.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 2.9M
$584R$2,957
43.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.5M
$424R$2,148
70.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
$1,752R$8,868
62.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
$1,274R$6,448
-3.98%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Campos dos Goytacazes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
10.38
29.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for Campos dos Goytacazes: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $313 in Campos dos Goytacazes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $27.00 in Campos dos Goytacazes for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $161 per month, with Campos dos Goytacazes cheaper across the board.
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 Campos dos Goytacazes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Campos dos Goytacazes cheaper than Medellin?
Campos dos Goytacazes is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,525 in Medellin and $1,137 in Campos dos Goytacazes 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 Campos dos Goytacazes?
Rent for a central apartment: $482 in Medellin versus $313 in Campos dos Goytacazes. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Campos dos Goytacazes runs roughly 9% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $312 in Medellin versus $414 in Campos dos Goytacazes. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Campos dos Goytacazes?
At $758 in Campos dos Goytacazes versus $1,017 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Campos dos Goytacazes but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Campos dos Goytacazes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Campos dos Goytacazes more family-friendly?
For families, Campos dos Goytacazes is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Campos dos Goytacazes gentler on the wallet β expenses run 34% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.