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

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 17.5% more expensive than Sao Luis without rent, and 33.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 1.4% more expensive than Sao Luis without rent, and 38.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sao Luis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.97 COPΒ 21.9K
$5.07 R$27.23
17.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.40 COPΒ 119.0K
$30.52 R$164
6.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.13 COPΒ 26.2K
$6.99 R$37.56
2.00%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COPΒ 6,043
$2.04 R$10.95
-19.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,882
$0.96 R$5.14
10.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COPΒ 2,839
$0.59 R$3.19
30.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.75 COPΒ 6,418
$1.86 R$9.96
-5.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 COPΒ 11.2K
$3.27 R$17.57
-6.42%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sao Luis
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COPΒ 4,026
$1.03 R$5.56
6.80%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COPΒ 4,771
$1.92 R$10.30
-32.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.34 COPΒ 4,905
$0.99 R$5.30
35.35%
Eggs
$2.26 COPΒ 8,299
$1.86 R$9.99
21.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.50 COPΒ 16.5K
$9.13 R$49.04
-50.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COPΒ 21.3K
$3.79 R$20.35
53.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.96 COPΒ 32.9K
$7.23 R$38.84
23.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 COPΒ 8,691
$1.95 R$10.48
21.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COPΒ 3,939
$1.21 R$6.52
-11.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.48 COPΒ 5,418
$1.01 R$5.41
46.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COPΒ 5,011
$1.34 R$7.20
1.49%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COPΒ 4,135
$1.13 R$6.05
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COPΒ 4,161
$1.25 R$6.70
-9.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,274
$0.80 R$4.28
11.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 COPΒ 3,114
$0.61 R$3.27
39.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COPΒ 8,361
$2.02 R$10.84
12.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.15 COPΒ 37.3K
$7.79 R$41.81
30.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COPΒ 4,359
$1.16 R$6.23
2.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 COPΒ 8,828
$1.95 R$10.47
23.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sao Luis
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COPΒ 3,074
$0.75 R$4.01
12.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.85 COPΒ 150.0K
$35.04 R$188
16.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 COPΒ 5,417
$0.93 R$4.97
59.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.89 COPΒ 6,949
$0.52 R$2.82
263.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.05 COPΒ 29.5K
$6.58 R$35.31
22.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COPΒ 3,455
$0.96 R$5.13
-2.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7K COPΒ 65.1M
$17.4K R$93.6K
1.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K COPΒ 96.8M
$25.2K R$135.1K
4.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sao Luis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.9 COPΒ 300.7K
$85.3 R$458
-3.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.54 COPΒ 35.0K
$17.69 R$95.0
-46.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.68 COPΒ 87.0K
$16.28 R$87.5
45.45%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sao Luis
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.85 COPΒ 94.9K
$18.47 R$99.2
39.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.72 COPΒ 68.7K
$15.58 R$83.7
20.15%
Cinema Ticket
$4.05 COPΒ 14.9K
$5.96 R$32.02
-32.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sao Luis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COPΒ 1.2M
$204 R$1,098
54.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,971 COPΒ 21.9M
$4,269 R$22.9K
39.88%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sao Luis
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.0 COPΒ 216.4K
$44.48 R$239
32.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.49 COPΒ 119.3K
$46.98 R$252
-30.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COPΒ 366.7K
$53.6 R$288
86.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPΒ 394.9K
$54.8 R$294
96.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sao Luis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$491 COPΒ 1.8M
$398 R$2,138
23.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COPΒ 1.4M
$215 R$1,153
72.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 COPΒ 3.0M
$521 R$2,797
57.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$731 COPΒ 2.7M
$295 R$1,584
147.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,019 COPΒ 11.1M
$1,461 R$7,848
106.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,332 COPΒ 4.9M
$676 R$3,629
97.14%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sao Luis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$517 COPΒ 1.9M
$369 R$1,982
40.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
10.92
22.99%

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

Last update for Medellin: January 12, 2026

Last update for Sao Luis: January 12, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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