Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Goiana

For one person, living is cheaper in Goiana: $796 a month against $1,692 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $10,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Goiana, Brazil
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Goiana
🇧🇷 Brazil
$796
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Goiana

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,692 in Medellin versus $796 in Goiana.

  • Medellin $1,692
  • Goiana $796

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,471 in Medellin versus $1,282 in Goiana.

  • Medellin $2,471
  • Goiana $1,282

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,249 in Medellin versus $1,768 in Goiana.

  • Medellin $3,249
  • Goiana $1,768

Living in Medellin is roughly 113% more expensive than in Goiana, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% above, Goiana is 41% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.34 COP 26.9K
$5.09 R$28.02
63.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.53 COP 150.3K
$35.02 R$193
32.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 COP 30.6K
$9.06 R$49.88
4.53%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 10.1K
$2.31 R$12.71
35.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 COP 5,704
$0.97 R$5.32
82.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 4,600
$0.55 R$3.01
158.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 COP 10.2K
$1.50 R$8.23
110.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 COP 18.4K
$3.01 R$16.56
89.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 COP 4,949
$1.29 R$7.10
18.60%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 COP 7,399
$1.51 R$8.30
51.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 COP 6,281
$1.46 R$8.06
32.88%
Eggs
$3.07 COP 9,902
$1.80 R$9.90
70.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 COP 32.3K
$6.71 R$36.96
48.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 COP 33.7K
$4.14 R$22.76
152.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 COP 45.1K
$6.63 R$36.47
110.56%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 COP 13.1K
$1.31 R$7.23
209.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,936
$1.29 R$7.12
18.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 COP 6,795
$0.74 R$4.10
183.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 COP 7,407
$1.13 R$6.22
102.65%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 COP 6,812
$1.36 R$7.51
55.15%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 COP 5,519
$1.00 R$5.49
71.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,779
$0.44 R$2.41
165.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 5,102
$0.83 R$4.54
90.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 COP 12.6K
$1.61 R$8.88
142.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.04 COP 45.4K
$7.28 R$40.06
92.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 COP 5,689
$1.09 R$5.98
61.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 COP 8,758
$1.41 R$7.73
92.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,810
$0.93 R$5.11
26.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.3 COP 246.4K
$41.05 R$226
85.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 COP 5,835
$0.98 R$5.38
84.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,876
$0.64 R$3.53
232.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.13 COP 26.3K
$4.86 R$26.73
67.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 COP 4,118
$0.94 R$5.16
36.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K COP 111.2M
$21.7K R$119.6K
58.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.2M
$30.8K R$169.8K
10.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 COP 573.9K
$74.4 R$409
138.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.89 COP 44.8K
$12.37 R$68.1
12.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.74 COP 99.3K
$15.97 R$87.9
92.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.94 COP 135.4K
$21.15 R$116
98.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 COP 54.3K
$23.22 R$128
-27.65%
Cinema Ticket
$7.47 COP 24.1K
$8.20 R$45.11
-8.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.6M
$220 R$1,212
258.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K COP 39.7M
$11.0K R$60.4K
12.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3 COP 278.8K
$42.29 R$233
104.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.3 COP 191.4K
$45.91 R$253
29.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 446.7K
$57.5 R$316
140.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8 COP 319.1K
$76.1 R$419
29.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 COP 4.3M
$338 R$1,860
296.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 COP 2.2M
$227 R$1,248
194.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,976 COP 6.4M
$722 R$3,972
173.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,033 COP 3.3M
$456 R$2,508
126.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,098 COP 13.2M
$1,440 R$7,927
184.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,940 COP 6.3M
$1,143 R$6,291
69.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 COP 2.1M
$519 R$2,855
24.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
11.75
-6.89%

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

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Last update for Goiana: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$667
Goiana
$227 66% $440
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$307
Goiana
$165 46.2% $142
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$222
Goiana
$103 53.8% $120
Eating Out
Medellin
$173
Goiana
$115 33.3% $57
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$172
Goiana
$100 42.1% $72
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Goiana
$49 47.6% $45
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Goiana
$38 34% $19

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,341 in Medellin and $338 in Goiana. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 25% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $47 in Medellin vs $35 in Goiana for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $307 vs $165 per month, with Goiana cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇧🇷 Goiana
🕒 Local time
09:54 9:54 AM
11:54 11:54 AM
2 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
81,055
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,627 COP (10,000 COP = 2.76 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 5.5 BRL (1 BRL = 0.182 USD). 1 EUR = 6.18 BRL (1 BRL = 0.162 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Goiana 4,760 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Goiana

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 Goiana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Goiana?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,692 in Medellin and $796 in Goiana, so Goiana is about 53% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Medellin or Goiana?
Average pay runs 25% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Goiana?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,341 in Medellin versus $338 in Goiana. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Goiana – a meal for two runs $35 versus $47 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Goiana?
All in, you’ll spend $1,692 per month in Medellin versus $796 in Goiana – Goiana is about 53% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $796 in Goiana versus $1,692 in Medellin, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Goiana but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Goiana the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Goiana?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Goiana?
Expats usually find Goiana gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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