Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Rio de Janeiro Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Rio de Janeiro

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 4.4% more expensive than Rio de Janeiro without rent, and 6.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 1.9% more expensive than Rio de Janeiro without rent, and 3.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.23 COP 26K

$7.1 R$39.4

-12.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 COP 134.8K

$35.72 R$198

-9.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.39 COP 30.8K

$6.47 R$35.9

14.22%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 7,155

$1.98 R$10.97

-13.13%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.1 COP 4,575

$1.31 R$7.28

-16.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 3,060

$0.9 R$4.97

-18.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.66 COP 6,916

$1.82 R$10.08

-8.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.2 COP 13.3K

$2.72 R$15.11

17.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 4,552

$1.12 R$6.19

-2.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 COP 5,188

$1.71 R$9.48

-27.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 COP 5,544

$1.41 R$7.82

-5.67%

Eggs

$2.22 COP 9,252

$2.04 R$11.32

8.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.55 COP 19K

$7.84 R$43.53

-41.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.71 COP 23.8K

$3.63 R$20.17

57.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.59 COP 35.8K

$8.25 R$45.78

4.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 COP 9,410

$2.39 R$13.25

-5.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 4,461

$1.55 R$8.58

-30.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 COP 6,293

$1.47 R$8.15

2.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 5,911

$1.52 R$8.43

-6.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 COP 4,619

$1.29 R$7.17

-13.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 COP 4,932

$1.16 R$6.45

1.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,718

$0.63 R$3.5

41.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 3,507

$0.61 R$3.41

37.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 9,809

$1.95 R$10.8

20.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.34 COP 38.9K

$7.34 R$40.77

27.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 COP 4,927

$1.26 R$7

-6.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 10.4K

$2.1 R$11.67

18.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 COP 3,464

$1.3 R$7.2

-36.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.9 COP 174.7K

$38.57 R$214

8.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 5,899

$1.13 R$6.28

24.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 8,164

$0.69 R$3.85

184.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 COP 32.7K

$7.8 R$43.29

0.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 COP 4,265

$1.06 R$5.87

-3.77%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 73.4M

$20.5K R$113.5K

-13.96%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K COP 109.2M

$27.6K R$153.4K

-5.20%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.5 COP 344.1K

$103 R$574

-20.18%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.44 COP 39.4K

$11.89 R$66

-20.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.51 COP 98K

$18.63 R$103

26.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.68 COP 107.1K

$25.89 R$144

-0.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 79.8K

$23.74 R$132

-19.38%

Cinema Ticket

$3.96 COP 16.5K

$6.57 R$36.47

-39.73%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 COP 1.3M

$540 R$2,995

-43.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,925 COP 24.7M

$11.8K R$65.3K

-49.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 241.4K

$45.33 R$252

27.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.59 COP 131.7K

$41.71 R$231

-24.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 430.1K

$74.9 R$415

37.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 COP 440.5K

$60.1 R$334

75.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 COP 2M

$446 R$2,475

9.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.6M

$333 R$1,846

13.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 COP 3.4M

$861 R$4,780

-3.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$729 COP 3M

$573 R$3,182

27.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,190 COP 9.1M

$2,021 R$11.2K

8.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 COP 6.4M

$1,183 R$6,568

29.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$550 COP 2.3M

$452 R$2,509

21.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

11.33

18.53%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Rio de Janeiro: October 29, 2025

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