Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sao Caetano do Sul Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sao Caetano do Sul

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $903 in Sao Caetano do Sul, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,645 in Sao Caetano do Sul, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $2,386 in Sao Caetano do Sul, rent included.

Medellin costs about 13% more than Sao Caetano do Sul, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Medellin and Sao Caetano do Sul are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Sao Caetano do Sul 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$7.27 R$36.83

-18.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$32.75 R$166

1.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$6.83 R$34.57

5.86%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$1.74 R$8.80

-6.32%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$1.20 R$6.07

-9.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.77 R$3.90

-5.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.79 R$9.05

-2.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$2.75 R$13.94

17.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.02 R$5.17

2.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$1.85 R$9.37

-30.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.36 R$6.90

-2.94%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.41 R$12.19

-5.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$9.82 R$49.72

-55.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$4.40 R$22.27

33.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$8.44 R$42.75

2.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.16 R$10.94

4.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.65 R$8.37

-35.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.41 R$7.15

7.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.71 R$8.65

-16.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.43 R$7.21

-18.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.25 R$6.33

-6.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.95 R$4.79

-6.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.63 R$3.21

42.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$2.31 R$11.72

-2.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$7.63 R$38.62

44.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.32 R$6.69

-13.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.28 R$11.54

4.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.88 R$4.48

-4.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$39.06 R$198

7.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$1.16 R$5.85

21.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.61 R$3.10

211.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$7.68 R$38.86

0.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.05 R$5.32

-3.81%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$21.9K R$111.0K

-19.83%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$28.6K R$144.9K

-7.46%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$55.4 R$281

50.94%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$13.09 R$66.3

-27.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$21.95 R$111

9.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$48.25 R$244

-47.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$47.64 R$241

-59.82%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$7.19 R$36.38

-42.98%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$322 R$1,630

-3.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$8,820 R$44.6K

-32.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$50.9 R$258

14.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$42.16 R$213

-22.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$77.8 R$394

28.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$75.5 R$382

43.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$319 R$1,616

51.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$274 R$1,388

38.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$629 R$3,183

33.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$916 R$4,636

-21.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$1,542 R$7,805

84.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$1,121 R$5,674

9.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$922 R$4,668

-41.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

11.17

20.23%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Sao Caetano do Sul: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $319 in Sao Caetano do Sul. 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 70% higher in Sao Caetano do Sul, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $33.00 in Sao Caetano do Sul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $200 – making Medellin 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 Sao Caetano do Sul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,354 in Sao Caetano do Sul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sao Caetano do Sul, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $33.00 in Sao Caetano do Sul. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $903 in Sao Caetano do Sul. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sao Caetano do Sul, where all-in costs run around $903, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Sao Caetano do Sul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sao Caetano do Sul – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Sao Caetano do Sul. 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.