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

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 13.5% more expensive than Recife without rent, and 30.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 10.8% more expensive than Recife without rent, and 13.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Recife
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$5.05 R$28.01
23.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$28.3 R$157
14.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$6.89 R$38.23
7.26%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$1.78 R$9.88
-3.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$0.89 R$4.91
23.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.53 R$2.95
37.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$1.41 R$7.8
17.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$3.01 R$16.69
6.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Recife
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.14 R$6.32
-4.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$1.45 R$8.03
-14.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$1.27 R$7.04
4.72%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$2.29 R$12.72
-3.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$6.81 R$37.78
-33.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$3.56 R$19.76
60.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$6.94 R$38.54
23.78%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$2.19 R$12.17
3.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.29 R$7.19
-17.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$1.11 R$6.16
36.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$1.61 R$8.95
-11.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$1.29 R$7.18
-13.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$1.04 R$5.75
13.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$0.51 R$2.82
74.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$0.75 R$4.15
12.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$1.64 R$9.08
43.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$7.44 R$41.32
25.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.2 R$6.66
-1.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$1.67 R$9.28
49.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Recife
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$0.76 R$4.21
9.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$36.46 R$202
14.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$1.15 R$6.36
22.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$0.66 R$3.68
196.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$3.57 R$19.83
119.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.08 R$5.99
-5.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$16.3K R$90.4K
8.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$22.1K R$122.8K
18.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Recife
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$71.7 R$398
15.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$16.15 R$89.7
-41.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$16.67 R$92.5
41.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Recife
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$19.47 R$108
31.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$30.95 R$172
-38.16%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$7.29 R$40.48
-45.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Recife
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$262 R$1,453
16.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$10.6K R$58.8K
-44.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Recife
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$43.03 R$239
34.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$50.4 R$280
-37.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$83.4 R$463
23.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$77.3 R$429
36.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Recife
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$323 R$1,794
51.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$202 R$1,122
87.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$581 R$3,226
42.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$536 R$2,977
35.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$1,490 R$8,270
46.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$849 R$4,710
80.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Recife
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$434 R$2,407
26.82%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Recife: October 28, 2025

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