Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Itaquaquecetuba

For one person, living is cheaper in Itaquaquecetuba: $829 a month against $1,692 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $10,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Itaquaquecetuba, Brazil
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Itaquaquecetuba
🇧🇷 Brazil
$829
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Itaquaquecetuba

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

A single person spends $1,692 per month in Medellin vs $829 in Itaquaquecetuba, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,692
  • Itaquaquecetuba $829

A couple spends around $2,471 per month in Medellin vs $1,315 in Itaquaquecetuba, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,471
  • Itaquaquecetuba $1,315

A family of three spends $3,249 per month in Medellin vs $1,801 in Itaquaquecetuba, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,249
  • Itaquaquecetuba $1,801

Medellin costs about 104% more than Itaquaquecetuba, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Itaquaquecetuba is 39% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Itaquaquecetuba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.34 COP 27.0K
$5.69 R$31.21
46.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.53 COP 150.9K
$30.06 R$165
54.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 COP 30.7K
$7.29 R$39.98
29.90%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 10.2K
$1.92 R$10.56
63.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 COP 5,728
$1.20 R$6.60
47.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 4,620
$0.71 R$3.87
100.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 COP 10.2K
$1.84 R$10.09
71.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 COP 18.5K
$2.74 R$15.02
108.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Itaquaquecetuba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 COP 4,971
$0.92 R$5.07
66.30%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 COP 7,431
$1.56 R$8.54
46.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 COP 6,308
$1.21 R$6.64
60.33%
Eggs
$3.07 COP 9,945
$1.97 R$10.82
55.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 COP 32.4K
$8.86 R$48.65
12.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 COP 33.9K
$4.13 R$22.66
153.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 COP 45.3K
$8.17 R$44.86
70.87%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 COP 13.1K
$2.13 R$11.68
90.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,957
$1.23 R$6.75
24.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 COP 6,825
$1.07 R$5.89
96.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 COP 7,439
$1.50 R$8.26
52.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 COP 6,841
$1.12 R$6.14
88.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 COP 5,543
$0.99 R$5.45
72.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,795
$0.76 R$4.15
53.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 5,125
$0.71 R$3.87
122.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 COP 12.7K
$2.26 R$12.43
73.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.04 COP 45.6K
$7.54 R$41.37
86.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 COP 5,714
$1.22 R$6.67
44.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 COP 8,796
$1.90 R$10.45
42.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Itaquaquecetuba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,826
$0.95 R$5.21
24.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.3 COP 247.4K
$42.65 R$234
78.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 COP 5,860
$1.19 R$6.53
52.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,906
$0.85 R$4.68
150.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.13 COP 26.4K
$7.64 R$41.96
6.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 COP 4,136
$1.16 R$6.37
10.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K COP 111.7M
$21.6K R$118.5K
59.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.7M
$31.5K R$173.0K
8.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Itaquaquecetuba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 COP 576.4K
$72.6 R$398
144.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.89 COP 45.0K
$11.70 R$64.2
18.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.74 COP 99.7K
$19.79 R$109
55.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Itaquaquecetuba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.94 COP 136.0K
$24.64 R$135
70.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 COP 54.5K
$26.02 R$143
-35.43%
Cinema Ticket
$7.47 COP 24.2K
$6.99 R$38.37
6.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Itaquaquecetuba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.6M
$256 R$1,403
209.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K COP 39.9M
$6,634 R$36.4K
85.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Itaquaquecetuba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3 COP 280.0K
$51.2 R$281
68.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.3 COP 192.2K
$46.61 R$256
27.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 448.7K
$84.3 R$463
64.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8 COP 320.5K
$65.1 R$357
51.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Itaquaquecetuba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 COP 4.3M
$337 R$1,851
297.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 COP 2.2M
$229 R$1,258
190.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,976 COP 6.4M
$629 R$3,455
213.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,033 COP 3.3M
$441 R$2,419
134.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,098 COP 13.3M
$1,585 R$8,699
158.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,940 COP 6.3M
$1,161 R$6,371
67.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Itaquaquecetuba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
11
-0.55%

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

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Last update for Itaquaquecetuba: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$667
Itaquaquecetuba
$229 65.6% $438
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$307
Itaquaquecetuba
$181 41.1% $126
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$222
Itaquaquecetuba
$104 53.2% $118
Eating Out
Medellin
$173
Itaquaquecetuba
$113 34.7% $60
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$172
Itaquaquecetuba
$111 35.4% $61
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Itaquaquecetuba
$52 44.5% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Itaquaquecetuba
$39 32.1% $18

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,341 in Medellin versus $337 in Itaquaquecetuba. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $30 in Itaquaquecetuba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 vs $181 – making Itaquaquecetuba the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇧🇷 Itaquaquecetuba
🕒 Local time
01:49 1:49 AM
03:49 3:49 AM
2 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
369,275
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 3,243 COP (10,000 COP = 3.08 USD). 1 EUR = 3,627 COP (10,000 COP = 2.76 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 5.49 BRL (1 BRL = 0.182 USD). 1 EUR = 6.14 BRL (1 BRL = 0.163 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Itaquaquecetuba 4,590 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Itaquaquecetuba

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 Itaquaquecetuba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Itaquaquecetuba compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,692 in Medellin, $829 in Itaquaquecetuba – Itaquaquecetuba comes out roughly 51% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Itaquaquecetuba?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,538 per month in Medellin and $1,243 in Itaquaquecetuba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Itaquaquecetuba?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Itaquaquecetuba, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $337 there versus $1,341 in Medellin.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Itaquaquecetuba?
Public transport costs about 44% less in Itaquaquecetuba. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Itaquaquecetuba?
Kindergarten costs $790 per month in Medellin and $256 in Itaquaquecetuba. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Itaquaquecetuba, where all-in costs run around $829, than in Medellin at $1,692. In Itaquaquecetuba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Medellin or Itaquaquecetuba?
Families tend to lean toward Itaquaquecetuba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Itaquaquecetuba?
For expats, Itaquaquecetuba is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 51% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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