Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Juiz de Fora Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Juiz de Fora

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $572 in Juiz de Fora.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $944 in Juiz de Fora.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $1,315 in Juiz de Fora.

Living in Medellin is roughly 75% more expensive than in Juiz de Fora, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 25% lower, Juiz de Fora 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91 COP 18.6K
$3.56 R$18.04
66.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 COP 103.8K
$18.25 R$92.6
80.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 23.4K
$4.54 R$23.06
63.66%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,207
$1.60 R$8.14
3.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,468
$0.94 R$4.77
17.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,458
$0.60 R$3.04
30.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,412
$0.91 R$4.63
89.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$1.85 R$9.37
71.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COP 3,474
$0.84 R$4.26
30.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 3,962
$1.42 R$7.19
-11.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,349
$1.60 R$8.12
-13.75%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 6,858
$1.65 R$8.37
32.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 COP 14.1K
$6.92 R$35.09
-35.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.79 COP 18.2K
$3.10 R$15.75
86.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 28.2K
$7.34 R$37.26
22.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 COP 7,308
$1.90 R$9.64
22.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,352
$1.17 R$5.95
-9.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,774
$1.09 R$5.55
39.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,270
$1.32 R$6.72
3.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,552
$1.06 R$5.37
6.60%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,689
$0.65 R$3.28
80.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,838
$0.47 R$2.38
91.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,823
$0.65 R$3.32
38.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 COP 7,034
$1.06 R$5.36
110.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 COP 38.2K
$5.76 R$29.22
110.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 3,743
$0.78 R$3.98
52.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 7,815
$0.99 R$5.02
150.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 COP 2,687
$0.66 R$3.35
28.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.62 COP 131.0K
$30.35 R$154
37.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,459
$0.91 R$4.61
56.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 6,141
$0.64 R$3.26
204.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 24.8K
$5.58 R$28.33
41.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,118
$1.05 R$5.35
-5.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 55.4M
$17.8K R$90.2K
-0.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 84.4M
$26.9K R$136.6K
-0.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 261.4K
$56.8 R$288
46.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 COP 30.5K
$6.74 R$34.18
43.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 COP 74.1K
$15.98 R$81.1
47.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.26 COP 79.5K
$17.83 R$90.5
41.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 COP 60.1K
$25.47 R$129
-25.01%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 12.4K
$4.39 R$22.26
-10.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COP 994.2K
$70.2 R$356
350.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,975 COP 18.8M
$2,398 R$12.2K
149.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 188.9K
$35.41 R$180
69.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 100.2K
$37.36 R$190
-14.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 320.1K
$53.5 R$272
90.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 338.3K
$30.08 R$153
257.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.5M
$200 R$1,014
137.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 COP 1.2M
$134 R$682
178.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 COP 2.7M
$460 R$2,336
84.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 COP 2.3M
$325 R$1,647
121.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,265 COP 10.3M
$959 R$4,867
240.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 COP 4.5M
$578 R$2,934
149.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$624 COP 2.0M
$457 R$2,320
36.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
10.83
24.01%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Juiz de Fora: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $200 in Juiz de Fora. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 37% 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $18.00 in Juiz de Fora for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 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 – living expenses run 75% 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 in Juiz de Fora?
Average pay runs 37% 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Juiz de Fora?
Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Medellin versus $200 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 and in Juiz de Fora?
Dining out is cheaper in Juiz de Fora – 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 $1,003 per month in Medellin versus $572 in Juiz de Fora – a 75% 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 in Juiz de Fora?
At $572 in Juiz de Fora versus $1,003 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 – similar infrastructure at $572 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 – expenses run 75% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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