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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 28.1% cheaper than Sao Tome without rent, and 6.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 31.7% cheaper than Sao Tome without rent, and 17.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sao Tome
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$20.41 STN 431
-69.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$45.97 STN 970
-29.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$9.99 STN 211
-26.03%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$1.78 STN 37.62
-3.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$1.91 STN 40.33
-42.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$1.18 STN 24.99
-38.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$1.61 STN 33.97
3.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$1.9 STN 40.1
68.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sao Tome
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.39 STN 29.26
-21.58%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$1 STN 21
24.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$2.38 STN 50.2
-44.12%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$4.98 STN 105
-55.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$20.37 STN 430
-77.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$20.07 STN 423
-71.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$24.84 STN 524
-65.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$4.51 STN 95.1
-49.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.18 STN 24.82
-9.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$4 STN 84.3
-62.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$3.43 STN 72.3
-58.60%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$2.65 STN 55.9
-58.11%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$2.08 STN 43.8
-43.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$0.67 STN 14.19
32.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$1.98 STN 41.73
-57.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$2.26 STN 47.68
3.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$9.41 STN 199
-0.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.27 STN 26.73
-7.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$1.3 STN 27.37
91.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sao Tome
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$1.26 STN 26.66
-34.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$13.91 STN 293
-43.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.7 STN 35.93
-40.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$22.9K STN 482.7K
14.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sao Tome
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$34.49 STN 728
-72.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$73 STN 1,541
-67.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sao Tome
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$36.95 STN 780
-30.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$28.71 STN 606
-33.33%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$21.2 STN 447
-81.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sao Tome
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sao Tome
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$19.09 STN 403
453.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sao Tome
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$344 STN 7,262
42.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$230 STN 4,857
64.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$667 STN 14.1K
23.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$514 STN 10.9K
41.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sao Tome
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$329 STN 6,931
67.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
7.38
81.98%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Sao Tome: October 29, 2025

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