πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,030 in Medellin versus $577 in Juiz de Fora.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Medellin versus $932 in Juiz de Fora.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $1,288 in Juiz de Fora.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 79% more expensive than Juiz de Fora, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Juiz de Fora57% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COPΒ 21.1K
$3.63R$18.03
63.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17COPΒ 118.3K
$17.94R$89.0
84.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.25COPΒ 25.9K
$4.55R$22.56
59.34%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,118
$1.63R$8.09
4.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,903
$0.92R$4.58
18.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COPΒ 2,734
$0.62R$3.05
24.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.75COPΒ 6,234
$0.86R$4.27
103.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COPΒ 11.4K
$1.78R$8.81
78.65%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COPΒ 3,780
$0.77R$3.84
37.66%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COPΒ 4,643
$1.38R$6.84
-5.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,911
$1.56R$7.71
-11.54%
Eggs
$2.21COPΒ 7,883
$1.69R$8.38
30.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.52COPΒ 16.1K
$7.10R$35.23
-36.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.80COPΒ 20.7K
$3.13R$15.52
85.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COPΒ 32.0K
$7.41R$36.73
21.05%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29COPΒ 8,157
$1.82R$9.02
25.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,779
$1.18R$5.85
-10.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51COPΒ 5,394
$1.09R$5.43
38.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COPΒ 4,854
$1.33R$6.59
2.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,133
$1.03R$5.10
12.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,161
$0.65R$3.20
80.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83COPΒ 2,951
$0.49R$2.45
69.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85COPΒ 3,034
$0.66R$3.27
28.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35COPΒ 8,397
$1.07R$5.29
119.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.09COPΒ 39.6K
$6.06R$30.08
83.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15COPΒ 4,120
$0.78R$3.86
47.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,826
$1.00R$4.94
147.00%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,818
$0.65R$3.23
21.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.85COPΒ 149.3K
$30.30R$150
38.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COPΒ 5,124
$0.99R$4.89
45.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,772
$0.67R$3.32
183.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.70COPΒ 27.5K
$5.68R$28.18
35.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03COPΒ 3,669
$1.05R$5.23
-1.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOPΒ 63.1M
$18.1KR$89.7K
-2.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0KCOPΒ 96.4M
$26.8KR$133.0K
0.75%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4COPΒ 290.5K
$58.6R$291
38.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42COPΒ 33.6K
$6.73R$33.39
39.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.77COPΒ 84.8K
$15.97R$79.2
48.84%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.86COPΒ 92.3K
$17.26R$85.6
49.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.34COPΒ 69.0K
$25.54R$127
-24.28%
Cinema Ticket
$4.05COPΒ 14.5K
$4.60R$22.82
-11.96%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$69.0R$342
353.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,067COPΒ 21.6M
$2,385R$11.8K
154.39%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9COPΒ 210.0K
$34.75R$172
69.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.82COPΒ 117.1K
$36.80R$183
-10.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100COPΒ 358.5K
$54.0R$268
85.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106COPΒ 379.2K
$30.10R$149
253.06%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490COPΒ 1.7M
$196R$972
149.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$371COPΒ 1.3M
$133R$657
179.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$454R$2,251
84.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$715COPΒ 2.6M
$322R$1,599
121.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,952COPΒ 10.5M
$984R$4,882
199.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,394COPΒ 5.0M
$614R$3,044
127.11%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$532COPΒ 1.9M
$468R$2,321
13.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
10.83
24.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026
Last update for Juiz de Fora: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $490 in Medellin and $196 in Juiz de Fora. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Medellin pays 14% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $33 in Medellin vs $18 in Juiz de Fora for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $153 per month, with Juiz de Fora cheaper across the board.
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 Juiz de Fora: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Juiz de Fora?
Juiz de Fora wins on cost β living expenses run 79% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Juiz de Fora the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or Juiz de Fora?
Medellin pays 14% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs Juiz de Fora?
Rent for a central apartment: $490 in Medellin versus $196 in Juiz de Fora. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin vs Juiz de Fora?
Dining out is cheaper in Juiz de Fora β a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Juiz de Fora?
All in, you'll spend $1,030 per month in Medellin versus $577 in Juiz de Fora β a 79% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or Juiz de Fora?
At $577 in Juiz de Fora versus $1,030 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Juiz de Fora but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Juiz de Fora the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Juiz de Fora?
Both work as nomad bases, but Juiz de Fora delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $577 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Juiz de Fora hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Juiz de Fora gentler on the wallet β expenses run 79% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.