Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Jaragua do Sul Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Jaragua do Sul

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $807 in Jaragua do Sul, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,286 in Jaragua do Sul, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,764 in Jaragua do Sul, rent included.

Medellin costs about 28% more than Jaragua do Sul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Jaragua do Sul are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Jaragua do Sul 40% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Jaragua do Sul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$7.10 R$36.29
-13.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$32.98 R$169
-1.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$6.24 R$31.87
17.63%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,600
$1.42 R$7.24
21.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$1.15 R$5.90
-8.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$0.62 R$3.15
24.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,488
$1.76 R$8.97
-3.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$2.65 R$13.54
19.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Jaragua do Sul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$0.76 R$3.89
38.16%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$1.43 R$7.32
-9.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$0.98 R$5.02
42.86%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,047
$1.79 R$9.15
20.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$8.14 R$41.61
-46.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$3.40 R$17.38
72.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$8.23 R$42.07
4.98%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,426
$2.28 R$11.63
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,604
$1.23 R$6.29
-9.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,983
$1.15 R$5.86
33.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$1.53 R$7.81
-11.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$1.14 R$5.82
-0.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$1.11 R$5.67
1.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$0.80 R$4.07
6.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$0.68 R$3.50
33.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,630
$2.07 R$10.59
13.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$6.94 R$35.49
78.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$1.36 R$6.95
-11.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$1.48 R$7.54
68.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Jaragua do Sul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,728
$0.92 R$4.71
-8.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$32.63 R$167
24.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$1.25 R$6.38
13.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$1.18 R$6.04
62.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$7.50 R$38.31
2.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$1.06 R$5.44
-6.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$19.5K R$99.9K
-7.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$26.6K R$135.8K
0.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Jaragua do Sul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$64.6 R$330
25.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$14.62 R$74.7
-31.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$20.53 R$105
17.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Jaragua do Sul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.7K
$24.07 R$123
4.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$21.57 R$110
-11.22%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$6.19 R$31.63
-35.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Jaragua do Sul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.5K
$295 R$1,510
3.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$2,398 R$12.3K
152.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Jaragua do Sul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$51.2 R$261
13.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$64.3 R$329
-49.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$82.4 R$421
22.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$59.6 R$304
80.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Jaragua do Sul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$318 R$1,627
49.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$219 R$1,122
71.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$531 R$2,712
59.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$449 R$2,293
62.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$1,016 R$5,190
216.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$826 R$4,223
66.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Jaragua do Sul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$612 R$3,130
0.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
10
34.30%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Jaragua do Sul: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $318 in Jaragua do Sul. 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 1% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $33.00 in Jaragua do Sul. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $171 in Jaragua do Sul – so Jaragua do Sul wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Jaragua do Sul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jaragua do Sul cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 28%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,211 in Jaragua do Sul. 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 Jaragua do Sul, 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 Jaragua do Sul?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $807 in Jaragua do Sul. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 24% less in Jaragua do Sul. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Jaragua do Sul?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jaragua do Sul, where all-in costs run around $807, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Jaragua do Sul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Jaragua do Sul more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Jaragua do Sul – 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 Jaragua do Sul. 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.

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