😐A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $842 in Mogi das Cruzes, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,250 in Mogi das Cruzes, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,659 in Mogi das Cruzes, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 22% more than Mogi das Cruzes, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Medellin and Mogi das Cruzes are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Mogi das Cruzes37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$7.11R$36.17
-13.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$22.58R$115
44.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$5.54R$28.18
32.49%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$1.48R$7.51
16.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$0.84R$4.27
25.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$0.81R$4.13
-4.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$1.85R$9.41
-8.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$2.18R$11.10
45.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$0.95R$4.83
10.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$1.58R$8.06
-17.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$1.18R$6.00
18.64%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$2.40R$12.21
-10.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$7.61R$38.74
-42.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$3.15R$16.04
86.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$8.26R$42.06
4.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$1.90R$9.65
20.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$1.61R$8.18
-31.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$1.44R$7.33
6.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$1.66R$8.43
-18.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$1.46R$7.45
-22.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$1.19R$6.04
-5.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$0.90R$4.57
-5.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.58R$2.98
56.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$1.83R$9.34
27.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$8.03R$40.90
54.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$1.37R$6.97
-12.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$2.05R$10.43
21.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$0.98R$4.99
-14.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$89.6R$456
-54.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$0.94R$4.78
51.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$0.58R$2.96
231.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$4.61R$23.49
66.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$1.02R$5.19
-2.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$12.6KR$64.4K
42.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$14.5KR$74.0K
83.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$51.4R$262
57.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$9.73R$49.56
2.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$22.38R$114
8.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$28.97R$147
-13.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$10.87R$55.4
76.17%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$7.31R$37.24
-45.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$183R$930
67.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$8,872R$45.2K
-31.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$31.45R$160
84.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$31.75R$162
1.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$53.8R$274
87.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$40.03R$204
169.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$343R$1,744
39.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$243R$1,237
54.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$660R$3,359
28.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$349R$1,776
109.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$1,528R$7,781
110.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$1,262R$6,425
8.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$331R$1,685
86.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
11.17
20.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Mogi das Cruzes: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $343 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 86% 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 $23.00 in Mogi das Cruzes. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $181 – 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 22%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,263 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 $33.00 in Medellin and $23.00 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 $1,031 in Medellin and $842 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 $842, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.