😐A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $746 in Passo Fundo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $1,249 in Passo Fundo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $1,752 in Passo Fundo, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 126% more than Passo Fundo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Passo Fundo is 46% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Passo Fundo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$5.67R$29.46
39.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$28.27R$147
57.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$6.56R$34.04
41.62%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$0.99R$5.15
192.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$1.18R$6.11
53.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$0.60R$3.10
158.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$1.57R$8.16
107.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$1.95R$10.13
201.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Passo Fundo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$1.00R$5.19
38.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$1.50R$7.81
63.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$1.07R$5.53
41.12%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$2.26R$11.71
23.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$6.38R$33.15
41.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$4.66R$24.22
128.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$9.19R$47.71
59.19%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$2.31R$12.01
71.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$0.75R$3.89
84.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$1.35R$7.00
70.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$0.75R$3.90
169.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$1.23R$6.36
69.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$1.03R$5.35
58.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$0.66R$3.41
63.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$0.79R$4.12
58.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$2.37R$12.29
70.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$7.84R$40.69
71.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$0.75R$3.87
113.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$2.04R$10.59
47.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Passo Fundo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$0.99R$5.13
19.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
$44.87R$233
78.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$1.18R$6.13
36.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$0.76R$3.95
180.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$7.84R$40.73
8.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$1.24R$6.43
8.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$23.3KR$121.1K
21.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$32.8KR$170.2K
8.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Passo Fundo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$36.18R$188
318.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$7.12R$36.97
83.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$18.51R$96.1
74.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Passo Fundo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
$24.55R$128
88.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
$23.98R$125
-28.02%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$4.91R$25.52
30.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Passo Fundo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$342R$1,777
144.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$6,782R$35.2K
31.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Passo Fundo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$48.44R$252
84.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$56.4R$293
-1.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$97.5R$506
40.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$72.2R$375
51.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Passo Fundo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$310R$1,610
207.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$194R$1,008
244.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$632R$3,280
219.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$441R$2,289
160.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
$826R$4,290
347.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
$617R$3,201
157.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Passo Fundo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
$681R$3,537
-8.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
11.44
-8.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Passo Fundo: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $310 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 9% 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 $28.00 in Passo Fundo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $175 – 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 126%, 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 $2,530 per month in Medellin and $1,119 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 $28.00 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 $1,687 in Medellin and $746 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 $746, than in Medellin at $1,687. 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.