πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $574 in Juiz de Fora.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $935 in Juiz de Fora.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $1,295 in Juiz de Fora.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 76% more expensive than Juiz de Fora, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Juiz de Fora57% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.5K
$3.55R$18.45
68.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.9K
$17.91R$93.0
83.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.5K
$4.47R$23.19
58.61%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,146
$1.55R$8.07
10.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,944
$1.00R$5.20
10.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,795
$0.65R$3.39
20.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 6,028
$0.92R$4.77
82.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
$1.78R$9.23
72.47%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,925
$0.80R$4.13
36.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,530
$1.41R$7.32
-10.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,947
$1.59R$8.28
-13.21%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,867
$1.69R$8.75
29.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.8K
$7.21R$37.45
-38.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.2K
$3.00R$15.60
87.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.9K
$7.13R$37.02
24.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,391
$1.85R$9.59
26.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,796
$1.14R$5.91
-7.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,401
$1.05R$5.47
42.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,949
$1.31R$6.82
5.34%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,132
$1.01R$5.27
13.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,176
$0.61R$3.15
90.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,198
$0.46R$2.39
93.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 3,012
$0.65R$3.36
29.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,186
$1.10R$5.71
107.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 38.2K
$5.89R$30.58
80.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,305
$0.84R$4.34
42.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,869
$1.04R$5.40
137.50%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,072
$0.66R$3.42
30.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 148.6K
$30.15R$157
37.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,290
$0.91R$4.71
61.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 7,045
$0.67R$3.48
192.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.8K
$5.56R$28.87
39.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,426
$1.04R$5.40
-8.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 65.1M
$17.8KR$92.4K
1.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 95.1M
$27.1KR$140.7K
-2.28%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 295.2K
$56.7R$294
45.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 34.1K
$6.77R$35.17
40.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 87.0K
$16.21R$84.2
49.48%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.9K
$17.57R$91.2
47.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 68.2K
$25.10R$130
-24.30%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.1K
$4.43R$23.01
-11.29%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$68.0R$353
354.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.4M
$2,354R$12.2K
153.43%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 210.5K
$34.81R$181
68.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 116.1K
$37.33R$194
-13.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 368.2K
$54.7R$284
87.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 389.2K
$30.74R$160
252.73%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$196R$1,015
143.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$131R$679
189.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$472R$2,448
77.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$326R$1,692
122.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
$973R$5,050
186.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
$604R$3,137
100.48%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
$465R$2,413
10.13%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Juiz de Fora: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $196 in Juiz de Fora. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Medellin pays 10% 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $18.00 in Juiz de Fora for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $152 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 76% 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 10% 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: $476 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 $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $574 in Juiz de Fora β a 76% 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 $574 in Juiz de Fora versus $1,013 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 $574 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 76% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.