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 $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $1,002 in Sao Caetano do Sul, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $1,761 in Sao Caetano do Sul, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $2,520 in Sao Caetano do Sul, rent included.

Medellin costs about 68% more than Sao Caetano do Sul, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Sao Caetano do Sul is 27% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.89 COP 24.2K

$8.51 R$44.17

-7.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.53 COP 136.5K

$39.69 R$206

12.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 COP 28.5K

$8.25 R$42.85

12.61%

Cappuccino

$2.90 COP 8,874

$2.07 R$10.74

40.10%

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

$1.81 COP 5,541

$1.22 R$6.35

48.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 COP 4,741

$0.83 R$4.30

86.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 COP 9,962

$2.26 R$11.74

43.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 COP 18.0K

$3.55 R$18.44

65.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,230

$1.18 R$6.12

16.95%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 COP 7,517

$2.01 R$10.46

21.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,617

$1.30 R$6.74

16.15%

Eggs

$2.78 COP 8,516

$2.63 R$13.67

5.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 COP 27.7K

$11.48 R$59.6

-21.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 COP 32.6K

$4.91 R$25.51

116.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 COP 44.8K

$10.22 R$53.1

43.15%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 COP 12.2K

$2.34 R$12.14

69.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,219

$1.74 R$9.05

-20.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,056

$1.57 R$8.13

46.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 COP 6,185

$1.78 R$9.24

13.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 COP 6,390

$1.46 R$7.59

43.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 COP 4,996

$1.15 R$5.95

41.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 COP 3,313

$0.93 R$4.85

16.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 COP 3,843

$0.85 R$4.40

47.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 COP 12.4K

$2.34 R$12.16

72.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 COP 41.3K

$8.60 R$44.65

56.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 4,904

$1.64 R$8.51

-2.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 COP 9,189

$2.49 R$12.92

20.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,611

$0.36 R$1.89

227.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 COP 4,920

$1.29 R$6.68

24.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 COP 6,533

$0.99 R$5.15

115.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 COP 26.1K

$8.08 R$41.96

5.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 COP 4,142

$1.27 R$6.57

6.30%

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

$28.3K COP 86.8M

$22.7K R$118.1K

24.57%

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

$35.7K COP 109.4M

$30.9K R$160.7K

15.34%

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

$151 COP 463.8K

$105 R$543

44.68%

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

$13.10 COP 40.1K

$14.94 R$77.6

-12.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.30 COP 99.0K

$22.15 R$115

45.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.33 COP 141.9K

$47.31 R$246

-2.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

$44.39 R$231

-61.12%

Cinema Ticket

$6.43 COP 19.7K

$9.39 R$48.76

-31.52%

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

$835 COP 2.6M

$427 R$2,218

95.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,887 COP 27.2M

$9,750 R$50.6K

-8.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.3 COP 273.7K

$62.2 R$323

43.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 COP 169.5K

$54.8 R$285

0.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 COP 418.5K

$95.6 R$497

42.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 335.1K

$85.4 R$443

28.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 COP 2.9M

$400 R$2,076

138.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 COP 2.0M

$298 R$1,545

124.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 COP 6.2M

$811 R$4,212

149.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 COP 3.5M

$809 R$4,200

41.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,696 COP 11.3M

$1,777 R$9,229

107.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 COP 4.9M

$1,401 R$7,277

13.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 COP 1.9M

$902 R$4,683

-30.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.43

10.81

-3.52%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Sao Caetano do Sul: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $400 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 44% 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 $45.00 in Medellin versus $40.00 in Sao Caetano do Sul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $226 – making Sao Caetano do Sul 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 68%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,530 per month in Medellin and $1,503 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 $45.00 in Medellin and $40.00 in Sao Caetano do Sul. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sao Caetano do Sul, where all-in costs run around $1,002, than in Medellin at $1,687. 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.