Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Passo Fundo Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Passo Fundo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,555 per month in Medellin vs $855 in Passo Fundo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,314 per month in Medellin vs $1,409 in Passo Fundo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,072 per month in Medellin vs $1,962 in Passo Fundo, rent included.

Medellin costs about 82% more than Passo Fundo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 15% above the global median, while Passo Fundo is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Passo Fundo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.59 COP 24.7K
$5.70 R$29.76
33.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.78 COP 145.7K
$30.54 R$159
46.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.24 COP 30.1K
$6.60 R$34.47
40.00%
Cappuccino
$2.95 COP 9,591
$1.97 R$10.26
49.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,861
$1.38 R$7.20
30.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 COP 4,391
$0.81 R$4.23
66.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 COP 9,544
$2.27 R$11.84
29.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.46 COP 17.8K
$2.82 R$14.72
93.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Passo Fundo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 COP 4,663
$0.94 R$4.90
52.13%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,785
$1.57 R$8.17
52.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.60 COP 5,209
$0.75 R$3.93
113.33%
Eggs
$2.88 COP 9,364
$2.37 R$12.36
21.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.71 COP 31.6K
$10.17 R$53.1
-4.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.44 COP 30.7K
$4.60 R$24.02
105.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.24 COP 43.1K
$9.49 R$49.58
39.52%
Apples (1kg)
$3.75 COP 12.2K
$2.24 R$11.72
67.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 COP 4,703
$1.16 R$6.07
25.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 COP 6,829
$0.94 R$4.91
123.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 COP 6,930
$1.25 R$6.54
70.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 COP 6,259
$1.15 R$6.03
66.96%
Onion (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,984
$1.08 R$5.63
41.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 COP 3,549
$0.89 R$4.67
22.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 3,843
$0.75 R$3.92
57.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.79 COP 12.3K
$2.35 R$12.26
61.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.16 COP 42.8K
$7.87 R$41.10
67.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 COP 5,337
$1.07 R$5.60
53.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 COP 7,410
$2.12 R$11.06
7.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Passo Fundo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,825
$1.13 R$5.88
4.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.6 COP 239.5K
$50.9 R$266
44.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,157
$1.26 R$6.60
1.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.98 COP 6,434
$0.75 R$3.93
164.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 25.7K
$7.87 R$41.10
0.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 COP 4,211
$1.19 R$6.19
8.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K COP 87.2M
$23.1K R$120.9K
15.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 112.9M
$32.3K R$168.8K
7.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Passo Fundo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 COP 513.6K
$72.6 R$379
117.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.39 COP 43.6K
$8.57 R$44.75
56.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.28 COP 88.8K
$19.85 R$104
37.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Passo Fundo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.15 COP 143.7K
$22.56 R$118
95.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.99 COP 52.0K
$17.26 R$90.1
-7.36%
Cinema Ticket
$6.39 COP 20.8K
$6.07 R$31.70
5.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Passo Fundo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$777 COP 2.5M
$268 R$1,401
189.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,800 COP 28.6M
$6,784 R$35.4K
29.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Passo Fundo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.7 COP 269.2K
$48.77 R$255
69.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.1 COP 182.6K
$49.96 R$261
12.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$131 COP 425.7K
$96.4 R$503
35.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.9 COP 312.1K
$74.8 R$391
28.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Passo Fundo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 COP 3.3M
$300 R$1,569
234.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$627 COP 2.0M
$223 R$1,162
181.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,826 COP 5.9M
$706 R$3,687
158.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$969 COP 3.2M
$523 R$2,733
85.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,907 COP 12.7M
$1,218 R$6,359
220.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,576 COP 5.1M
$955 R$4,988
64.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Passo Fundo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$620 COP 2.0M
$672 R$3,509
-7.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
11.5
-4.87%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 28, 2026

Last update for Passo Fundo: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Medellin versus $300 in Passo Fundo. 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 8% higher in Passo Fundo, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin versus $31.00 in Passo Fundo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $285 vs $191 – making Passo Fundo 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 Passo Fundo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Passo Fundo cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 82%, 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 $2,333 per month in Medellin and $1,283 in Passo Fundo. 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 Passo Fundo, 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 Passo Fundo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin and $31.00 in Passo Fundo. 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 Passo Fundo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,555 in Medellin and $855 in Passo Fundo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Passo Fundo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Passo Fundo, where all-in costs run around $855, than in Medellin at $1,555. In Passo Fundo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Passo Fundo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Passo Fundo – 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 Passo Fundo. 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.

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