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 $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $907 in Sao Caetano do Sul, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,638 in Sao Caetano do Sul, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $2,369 in Sao Caetano do Sul, rent included.

Medellin costs about 14% 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 23% lower, Sao Caetano do Sul 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.5K

$7.00 R$34.85

-15.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 119.1K

$31.85 R$159

2.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.2K

$6.90 R$34.37

4.35%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,186

$1.74 R$8.66

-2.30%

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

$1.10 COP 3,996

$1.21 R$6.01

-9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,625

$0.82 R$4.08

-12.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,067

$1.81 R$9.02

-7.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.3K

$2.84 R$14.13

9.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,837

$1.02 R$5.10

3.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,531

$1.83 R$9.12

-31.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,060

$1.30 R$6.47

6.92%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,229

$2.28 R$11.33

-0.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.8K

$10.10 R$50.3

-57.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.2K

$4.39 R$21.85

33.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 32.1K

$8.44 R$42.03

4.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,159

$2.09 R$10.40

7.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,911

$1.66 R$8.29

-34.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,563

$1.47 R$7.34

4.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,987

$1.72 R$8.56

-20.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,109

$1.40 R$6.97

-19.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,067

$1.30 R$6.50

-13.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,080

$0.95 R$4.73

-10.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,305

$0.68 R$3.38

33.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,477

$2.30 R$11.45

1.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.5K

$8.08 R$40.22

37.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,342

$1.37 R$6.81

-13.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,617

$2.36 R$11.73

0.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,859

$0.88 R$4.40

-10.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 149.6K

$38.15 R$190

7.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,223

$1.14 R$5.68

26.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,952

$0.58 R$2.90

229.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 29.2K

$7.85 R$39.10

2.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,410

$1.06 R$5.26

-11.32%

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

$17.9K COP 65.2M

$21.5K R$106.8K

-16.47%

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

$26.8K COP 97.4M

$28.4K R$141.3K

-5.60%

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

$84.0 COP 305.4K

$54.4 R$271

54.42%

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

$9.60 COP 34.9K

$13.34 R$66.5

-28.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.9K

$22.15 R$110

9.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 94.1K

$48.16 R$240

-46.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 69.3K

$46.19 R$230

-58.78%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.2K

$7.27 R$36.22

-46.08%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$330 R$1,645

-7.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.5M

$8,710 R$43.4K

-32.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 210.6K

$51.1 R$254

13.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 115.7K

$41.93 R$209

-24.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 363.3K

$78.0 R$388

28.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 389.7K

$77.9 R$388

37.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$324 R$1,615

50.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$279 R$1,387

32.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$640 R$3,185

29.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$907 R$4,519

-21.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

$1,681 R$8,369

74.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

$1,198 R$5,968

17.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$961 R$4,784

-43.22%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Sao Caetano do Sul: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $324 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 76% 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 $32.00 in Sao Caetano do Sul. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $202 in Sao Caetano do Sul – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 14%, 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,360 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 $32.00 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 $1,034 in Medellin and $907 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 $907, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.