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Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Recife Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Recife

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 8.8% more expensive than Recife without rent, and 35% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 9.3% more expensive than Recife without rent, and 20.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Recife
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.97 COPΒ 21.9K
$5.04 R$27.06
18.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.40 COPΒ 119.0K
$27.48 R$148
17.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.13 COPΒ 26.2K
$6.74 R$36.19
5.79%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COPΒ 6,043
$1.84 R$9.88
-10.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,882
$0.88 R$4.71
20.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COPΒ 2,839
$0.53 R$2.83
45.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.75 COPΒ 6,419
$1.45 R$7.80
20.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 COPΒ 11.2K
$2.92 R$15.69
4.79%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Recife
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COPΒ 4,026
$1.18 R$6.32
-6.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COPΒ 4,771
$1.45 R$7.76
-10.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.34 COPΒ 4,906
$1.26 R$6.77
6.35%
Eggs
$2.26 COPΒ 8,300
$2.29 R$12.27
-1.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.50 COPΒ 16.5K
$6.80 R$36.53
-33.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COPΒ 21.3K
$3.54 R$18.98
63.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.96 COPΒ 32.9K
$7.16 R$38.47
25.14%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 COPΒ 8,692
$2.16 R$11.58
9.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COPΒ 3,940
$1.29 R$6.90
-17.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.48 COPΒ 5,419
$1.12 R$6.02
32.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COPΒ 5,012
$1.57 R$8.41
-13.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COPΒ 4,136
$1.33 R$7.16
-15.04%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COPΒ 4,161
$1.03 R$5.56
9.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,275
$0.54 R$2.92
64.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 COPΒ 3,114
$0.75 R$4.03
13.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COPΒ 8,361
$1.61 R$8.63
41.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.15 COPΒ 37.3K
$7.54 R$40.51
34.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COPΒ 4,359
$1.14 R$6.13
4.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 COPΒ 8,829
$1.68 R$9.01
42.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Recife
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COPΒ 3,075
$0.72 R$3.86
16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.85 COPΒ 150.0K
$36.68 R$197
11.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 COPΒ 5,417
$1.15 R$6.17
28.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.89 COPΒ 6,950
$0.64 R$3.42
195.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.05 COPΒ 29.5K
$3.66 R$19.67
119.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COPΒ 3,455
$1.04 R$5.59
-9.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7K COPΒ 65.2M
$16.3K R$87.8K
8.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K COPΒ 96.8M
$22.1K R$118.8K
19.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Recife
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.9 COPΒ 300.7K
$72.2 R$387
13.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.54 COPΒ 35.0K
$15.77 R$84.7
-39.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.68 COPΒ 87.0K
$16.40 R$88.1
44.39%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Recife
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.85 COPΒ 94.9K
$19.70 R$106
31.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.72 COPΒ 68.7K
$31.32 R$168
-40.23%
Cinema Ticket
$4.05 COPΒ 14.9K
$7.18 R$38.57
-43.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Recife
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COPΒ 1.2M
$257 R$1,382
22.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,971 COPΒ 21.9M
$10.6K R$57.0K
-43.79%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Recife
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.0 COPΒ 216.5K
$43.21 R$232
36.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.49 COPΒ 119.3K
$50.3 R$270
-35.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COPΒ 366.7K
$83.8 R$450
19.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPΒ 394.9K
$78.4 R$421
37.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Recife
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$491 COPΒ 1.8M
$318 R$1,710
54.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COPΒ 1.4M
$205 R$1,099
81.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 COPΒ 3.0M
$597 R$3,207
37.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$731 COPΒ 2.7M
$535 R$2,874
36.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,019 COPΒ 11.1M
$1,762 R$9,461
71.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,332 COPΒ 4.9M
$965 R$5,184
37.99%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Recife
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$517 COPΒ 1.9M
$419 R$2,250
23.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
15
-10.47%

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

Last update for Medellin: January 12, 2026

Last update for Recife: January 12, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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