Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sao Carlos Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sao Carlos

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 8.1% more expensive than Sao Carlos without rent, and 26.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 14.8% more expensive than Sao Carlos without rent, and 12.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.23 COP 26K

$4.6 R$25.55

35.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 COP 134.8K

$32.65 R$181

-0.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.39 COP 30.8K

$6.78 R$37.65

9.00%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 7,155

$1.74 R$9.68

-1.15%

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

$1.1 COP 4,575

$1.16 R$6.42

-5.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 3,060

$0.63 R$3.5

15.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.66 COP 6,916

$1.47 R$8.16

12.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.2 COP 13.3K

$3.02 R$16.78

5.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 4,552

$1.09 R$6.04

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 COP 5,188

$1.52 R$8.42

-18.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 COP 5,544

$2.57 R$14.24

-48.25%

Eggs

$2.22 COP 9,252

$2.23 R$12.37

-0.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.55 COP 19K

$9.55 R$53

-52.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.71 COP 23.8K

$4.17 R$23.13

36.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.59 COP 35.8K

$7.74 R$42.96

10.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 COP 9,410

$2.33 R$12.94

-3.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 4,461

$1.51 R$8.38

-29.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 COP 6,293

$1.53 R$8.47

-1.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 5,911

$1.99 R$11.04

-28.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 COP 4,619

$1.53 R$8.47

-27.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 COP 4,932

$1.24 R$6.87

-4.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,718

$0.9 R$4.98

-1.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 3,507

$0.78 R$4.32

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 9,809

$2.1 R$11.63

11.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.34 COP 38.9K

$7.24 R$40.17

29.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 COP 4,927

$1.27 R$7.07

-7.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 10.4K

$2.52 R$14.01

-1.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 COP 3,464

$0.93 R$5.17

-10.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.9 COP 174.7K

$21.89 R$121

91.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 5,899

$1.31 R$7.29

7.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 8,164

$0.96 R$5.34

104.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 COP 32.7K

$3.31 R$18.39

137.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 COP 4,265

$1.04 R$5.76

-1.92%

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

$17.6K COP 73.4M

$29.1K R$161.3K

-39.46%

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

$26.2K COP 109.2M

$29.2K R$162.2K

-10.35%

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

$82.5 COP 344.1K

$71.1 R$395

16.11%

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

$9.44 COP 39.4K

$14.76 R$81.9

-36.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.51 COP 98K

$18.57 R$103

26.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.68 COP 107.1K

$20.55 R$114

24.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 79.8K

$39.92 R$222

-52.05%

Cinema Ticket

$3.96 COP 16.5K

$4.22 R$23.42

-6.16%

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

$305 COP 1.3M

$308 R$1,707

-0.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,925 COP 24.7M

$2,678 R$14.9K

121.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 241.4K

$46.58 R$259

24.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.59 COP 131.7K

$36.53 R$203

-13.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 430.1K

$101 R$560

2.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 COP 440.5K

$90.6 R$503

16.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 COP 2M

$219 R$1,218

123.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.6M

$216 R$1,202

75.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 COP 3.4M

$439 R$2,437

88.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$729 COP 3M

$486 R$2,696

50.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,190 COP 9.1M

$693 R$3,845

216.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 COP 6.4M

$850 R$4,718

80.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$550 COP 2.3M

$828 R$4,594

-33.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

10.67

25.87%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Sao Carlos: October 29, 2025

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