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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 3% cheaper than Sao Paulo without rent, and 5.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 9.7% cheaper than Sao Paulo without rent, and 9.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sao Paulo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$7.13 R$39.55
-12.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$39.76 R$221
-18.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$7.39 R$41
-
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$2.04 R$11.32
-15.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$1.21 R$6.69
-9.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.86 R$4.77
-15.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$2.14 R$11.9
-22.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$2.84 R$15.76
12.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sao Paulo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.03 R$5.7
5.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$1.76 R$9.75
-29.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$1.29 R$7.19
3.10%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$2.41 R$13.35
-7.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$10.96 R$60.8
-58.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$4.32 R$23.97
32.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$9.01 R$49.99
-4.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$2.78 R$15.41
-18.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.85 R$10.25
-42.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$1.68 R$9.3
-10.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$1.76 R$9.78
-19.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$1.44 R$8.01
-22.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$1.25 R$6.93
-5.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$1.01 R$5.59
-11.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$0.7 R$3.88
20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$2.49 R$13.8
-5.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$9.12 R$50.6
2.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.36 R$7.52
-13.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$2.29 R$12.74
8.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sao Paulo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$0.94 R$5.2
-11.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$44.21 R$245
-5.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$1.1 R$6.12
28.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$0.76 R$4.21
157.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$8.96 R$49.72
-12.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.1 R$6.1
-7.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$22K R$121.8K
-19.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$28.4K R$157.7K
-7.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sao Paulo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$53.8 R$298
53.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$13.37 R$74.2
-29.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$20.19 R$112
16.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sao Paulo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$29.33 R$163
-12.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$35.52 R$197
-46.11%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$7.89 R$43.78
-49.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sao Paulo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$506 R$2,806
-39.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$15.2K R$84.5K
-61.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sao Paulo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$52.4 R$291
10.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$41.78 R$232
-24.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$79.4 R$441
29.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$74.5 R$414
41.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sao Paulo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$678 R$3,761
-27.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$406 R$2,252
-6.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$1,267 R$7,033
-34.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$759 R$4,214
-3.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$2,965 R$16.5K
-26.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$1,984 R$11K
-22.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sao Paulo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$713 R$3,959
-22.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
11.56
16.18%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Sao Paulo: October 28, 2025

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