Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Fortaleza Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Fortaleza

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 9.9% more expensive than Fortaleza without rent, and 23.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 4.2% more expensive than Fortaleza without rent, and 20.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Fortaleza
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$5.29 R$29.38
17.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$33.85 R$188
-4.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$6.88 R$38.18
7.41%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$2.13 R$11.85
-19.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$1.1 R$6.12
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.63 R$3.48
15.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$1.96 R$10.86
-15.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$3.7 R$20.55
-13.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Fortaleza
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.13 R$6.28
-3.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$1.89 R$10.47
-34.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$1.13 R$6.25
17.70%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$1.8 R$10
23.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$6.99 R$38.81
-34.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$3.31 R$18.37
72.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$7.87 R$43.71
9.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$2.53 R$14.06
-10.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.19 R$6.63
-10.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$0.79 R$4.36
91.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$1.46 R$8.09
-2.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$1.3 R$7.23
-14.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$1.05 R$5.83
12.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$0.96 R$5.33
-7.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$0.78 R$4.31
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$2.16 R$11.97
8.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$6.35 R$35.25
47.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.34 R$7.45
-11.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$1.55 R$8.59
60.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Fortaleza
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$0.84 R$4.67
-1.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$30.51 R$169
37.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$1.05 R$5.84
34.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$0.75 R$4.15
161.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$6.04 R$33.5
29.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.09 R$6.05
-6.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$20.4K R$113.3K
-13.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$27.7K R$153.8K
-5.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Fortaleza
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$109 R$605
-24.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$15.68 R$87
-39.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$18.07 R$100
30.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Fortaleza
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$22.42 R$124
14.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$42.68 R$237
-55.15%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$6.35 R$35.27
-37.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Fortaleza
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$228 R$1,263
33.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$2,176 R$12.1K
172.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Fortaleza
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$48.64 R$270
19.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$44.27 R$246
-28.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$90.1 R$500
14.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$57.3 R$318
84.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Fortaleza
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$314 R$1,744
55.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$197 R$1,091
92.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$370 R$2,055
123.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$347 R$1,927
109.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$1,397 R$7,756
56.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$781 R$4,335
96.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Fortaleza
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$348 R$1,933
57.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
11.79
13.91%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Fortaleza: October 29, 2025

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