😐A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $966 in Mogi das Cruzes, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $1,475 in Mogi das Cruzes, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $1,983 in Mogi das Cruzes, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 78% more than Mogi das Cruzes, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Mogi das Cruzes is 30% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03COP 25.2K
$9.07R$46.26
-11.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26COP 151.7K
$29.23R$149
65.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77COP 30.7K
$7.31R$37.26
33.65%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,149
$1.44R$7.34
102.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94COP 6,110
$1.27R$6.49
52.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52COP 4,783
$0.90R$4.57
68.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09COP 9,721
$2.30R$11.73
34.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74COP 18.1K
$2.88R$14.68
99.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,287
$1.01R$5.15
34.65%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39COP 7,505
$1.92R$9.80
24.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,346
$1.29R$6.59
31.78%
Eggs
$2.87COP 9,021
$2.72R$13.86
5.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94COP 31.2K
$9.74R$49.66
2.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.78COP 33.9K
$4.82R$24.60
123.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73COP 46.3K
$8.89R$45.33
65.69%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09COP 12.8K
$2.16R$11.03
89.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57COP 4,940
$1.43R$7.27
9.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13COP 6,682
$1.18R$6.01
80.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21COP 6,959
$1.48R$7.54
49.32%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05COP 6,435
$1.27R$6.48
61.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50COP 4,728
$1.20R$6.11
25.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19COP 3,740
$0.88R$4.50
35.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16COP 3,640
$0.61R$3.11
90.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$2.39R$12.21
63.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.44COP 45.4K
$7.90R$40.29
82.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58COP 4,978
$1.46R$7.46
8.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83COP 8,889
$2.52R$12.87
12.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,672
$1.14R$5.83
2.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.7COP 244.3K
$80.9R$412
-3.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28COP 4,038
$1.14R$5.83
12.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09COP 6,576
$0.70R$3.57
198.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.62COP 27.1K
$4.85R$24.73
77.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30COP 4,080
$1.23R$6.26
5.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KCOP 86.9M
$23.3KR$119.0K
18.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KCOP 111.6M
$31.8KR$162.2K
11.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176COP 553.4K
$64.8R$331
171.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37COP 42.0K
$15.31R$78.1
-12.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89COP 94.0K
$21.92R$112
36.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.76COP 140.7K
$29.62R$151
51.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06COP 53.6K
$10.54R$53.7
61.86%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20COP 19.5K
$7.56R$38.58
-17.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$793COP 2.5M
$242R$1,234
227.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,019COP 28.4M
$5,692R$29.0K
58.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6COP 269.1K
$38.20R$195
124.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5COP 183.8K
$32.25R$164
81.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136COP 428.4K
$83.5R$426
63.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103COP 324.1K
$68.1R$347
51.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,060COP 3.3M
$383R$1,955
176.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680COP 2.1M
$287R$1,463
136.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012COP 6.3M
$616R$3,144
226.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,169COP 3.7M
$469R$2,393
149.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,111COP 12.9M
$1,523R$7,767
169.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,701COP 5.3M
$1,209R$6,167
40.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665COP 2.1M
$323R$1,648
105.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
10.81
1.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Last update for Mogi das Cruzes: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $383 in Mogi das Cruzes. 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 106% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $29.00 in Mogi das Cruzes. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $202 – making Mogi das Cruzes the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Mogi das Cruzes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mogi das Cruzes cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 78%, 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 $2,574 per month in Medellin and $1,450 in Mogi das Cruzes. 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 Mogi das Cruzes, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Mogi das Cruzes?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $29.00 in Mogi das Cruzes. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Mogi das Cruzes?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,716 in Medellin and $966 in Mogi das Cruzes. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Mogi das Cruzes?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mogi das Cruzes, where all-in costs run around $966, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Mogi das Cruzes it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Mogi das Cruzes more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mogi das Cruzes – 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 Mogi das Cruzes. 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.