😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $608 in Feira de Santana, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $984 in Feira de Santana, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,359 in Feira de Santana, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 176% more than Feira de Santana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Feira de Santana is 56% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Feira de Santana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$4.97R$25.58
61.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$18.56R$95.6
157.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$7.11R$36.65
39.10%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$1.37R$7.06
128.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$0.80R$4.12
138.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$0.47R$2.40
221.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$1.87R$9.66
66.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$3.53R$18.16
62.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Feira de Santana
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$1.19R$6.13
21.01%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$1.53R$7.90
62.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$1.20R$6.20
47.50%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$1.96R$10.11
51.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$6.94R$35.75
45.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$4.42R$22.75
128.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$6.94R$35.74
106.05%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$2.02R$10.41
104.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$1.46R$7.52
10.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$1.14R$5.87
97.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$1.32R$6.83
70.45%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$1.10R$5.69
85.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$1.31R$6.72
17.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$0.82R$4.23
42.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$1.05R$5.41
24.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$2.37R$12.20
64.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$5.92R$30.52
136.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$1.21R$6.26
43.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$2.00R$10.32
43.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Feira de Santana
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$1.04R$5.37
17.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$1.62R$8.36
-19.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$1.18R$6.10
85.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
$9.37R$48.28
-7.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$1.24R$6.39
10.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$23.2KR$119.8K
19.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$33.3KR$171.6K
7.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Feira de Santana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$29.09R$150
509.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$5.94R$30.60
133.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$17.38R$89.6
71.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Feira de Santana
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
$21.72R$112
106.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
$28.85R$149
-40.66%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$4.26R$21.97
56.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Feira de Santana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$345R$1,779
135.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$5,805R$29.9K
58.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Feira de Santana
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$57.0R$294
56.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$34.75R$179
69.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$84.2R$434
64.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$80.7R$416
26.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Feira de Santana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$179R$922
493.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$128R$658
419.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$318R$1,640
493.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$238R$1,224
332.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Feira de Santana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$295R$1,520
129.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
10
9.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Feira de Santana: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $179 in Feira de Santana. 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 130% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $19.00 in Feira de Santana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $177 – making Feira de Santana 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 Feira de Santana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Feira de Santana cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 176%, 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $912 in Feira de Santana. 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 Feira de Santana, 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 Feira de Santana?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $608 in Feira de Santana. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $813 per month in Medellin and $345 in Feira de Santana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Feira de Santana?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Feira de Santana, where all-in costs run around $608, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Feira de Santana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Feira de Santana more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Feira de Santana – 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 Feira de Santana. 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.