Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sao Joao da Boa Vista Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sao Joao da Boa Vista

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $790 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,257 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,723 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, rent included.

Medellin costs about 31% more than Sao Joao da Boa Vista, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Sao Joao da Boa Vista are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Sao Joao da Boa Vista 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$5.36 R$26.75

10.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$26.62 R$133

23.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$5.81 R$28.97

23.92%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$2.07 R$10.34

-17.87%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$1.20 R$5.96

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.92 R$4.60

-21.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$2.03 R$10.12

-17.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$2.72 R$13.59

13.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$0.94 R$4.70

12.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$1.54 R$7.69

-18.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$1.33 R$6.63

4.51%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$2.85 R$14.21

-20.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$12.75 R$63.6

-66.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$4.08 R$20.35

43.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$8.68 R$43.29

1.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$1.63 R$8.13

37.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$1.24 R$6.20

-12.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$2.08 R$10.39

-26.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$1.81 R$9.02

-24.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$1.28 R$6.38

-11.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$1.29 R$6.45

-13.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$1.10 R$5.50

-22.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.47 R$2.34

93.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$2.10 R$10.47

10.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$5.85 R$29.19

90.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$1.35 R$6.75

-11.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$2.09 R$10.42

13.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$0.89 R$4.44

-11.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

$38.62 R$193

6.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$1.28 R$6.41

12.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$1.06 R$5.30

80.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$6.38 R$31.84

25.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$0.84 R$4.18

11.90%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$21.1K R$105.3K

-15.07%

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$29.3K R$146.0K

-8.47%

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$86.6 R$432

-3.00%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$11.75 R$58.7

-18.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$17.93 R$89.5

34.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$22.82 R$114

13.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

$21.99 R$110

-13.42%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$4.52 R$22.56

-13.27%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$284 R$1,419

7.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$8,037 R$40.1K

-26.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$46.49 R$232

24.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$39.92 R$199

-20.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$38.93 R$194

156.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$41.18 R$206

160.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$318 R$1,588

52.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$219 R$1,090

68.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$591 R$2,951

39.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$434 R$2,167

64.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

$1,644 R$8,205

77.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

$1,137 R$5,675

23.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$681 R$3,396

-19.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

11.92%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Sao Joao da Boa Vista: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $318 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista. 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 25% higher in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, 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 $27.00 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $198 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista – 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 Joao da Boa Vista: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,185 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, 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 $27.00 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista. 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 $790 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, where all-in costs run around $790, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Sao Joao da Boa Vista it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sao Joao da Boa Vista – 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 Joao da Boa Vista. 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.