Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sao Tome and Principe

For one person, living is cheaper in Sao Tome and Principe: $1,214 a month against $1,589 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
🇸🇹 Sao Tome and Principe
$1,214
/mo nomad
😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 2.8% more expensive than Sao Tome and Principe without rent, and 30.9% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 7.5% cheaper than Sao Tome and Principe without rent, and 19% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sao Tome and Principe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.01 COP 25.5K
$8.81 STN 192
-9.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.55 COP 148.3K
$45.70 STN 999
1.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.43 COP 30.1K
$8.62 STN 188
9.40%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,277
$2.42 STN 52.8
20.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 COP 5,585
$1.74 STN 38.06
0.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 COP 4,218
$1.12 STN 24.57
17.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.13 COP 9,969
$1.76 STN 38.46
77.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55 COP 17.7K
$1.80 STN 39.44
208.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sao Tome and Principe
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 COP 4,495
$1.58 STN 34.44
-10.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.44 COP 7,777
$1.53 STN 33.42
59.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 COP 5,191
$1.95 STN 42.63
-16.41%
Eggs
$2.82 COP 8,990
$4.50 STN 98.3
-37.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 COP 30.9K
$19.41 STN 424
-50.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.32 COP 29.7K
$19.55 STN 427
-52.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.46 COP 42.9K
$20.90 STN 457
-35.60%
Apples (1kg)
$4.00 COP 12.8K
$3.72 STN 81.2
7.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 COP 4,719
$1.76 STN 38.50
-15.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 COP 6,768
$3.58 STN 78.3
-40.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,178
$3.37 STN 73.7
-33.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 COP 6,092
$2.92 STN 63.9
-34.59%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 COP 5,160
$2.37 STN 51.7
-31.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,658
$0.51 STN 11.06
125.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 COP 4,021
$1.98 STN 43.32
-36.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82 COP 12.2K
$2.25 STN 49.25
69.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.11 COP 41.8K
$8.12 STN 177
61.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 5,083
$1.41 STN 30.74
13.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,188
$1.70 STN 37.22
32.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sao Tome and Principe
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,731
$1.41 STN 30.77
-17.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.0 COP 239.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,056
$1.73 STN 37.81
-26.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,531
$2.64 STN 57.8
-22.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 COP 26.1K
$13.90 STN 304
-41.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 COP 4,046
$1.69 STN 37.00
-24.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K COP 85.3M
$24.3K STN 531.2K
10.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K COP 109.6M
$31.1K STN 678.7K
10.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sao Tome and Principe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 COP 516.9K
$225 STN 4,918
-27.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12 COP 41.8K
$31.43 STN 687
-58.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.09 COP 89.5K
$67.6 STN 1,477
-58.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sao Tome and Principe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.33 COP 141.2K
$33.47 STN 731
32.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 COP 52.0K
$25.52 STN 558
-36.01%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09 COP 19.4K
$20.45 STN 447
-70.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sao Tome and Principe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$764 COP 2.4M
$228 STN 4,976
235.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,904 COP 28.4M
$2,161 STN 47.2K
312.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sao Tome and Principe
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0 COP 270.8K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 COP 183.2K
$75.8 STN 1,656
-24.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$132 COP 419.8K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8 COP 305.1K
$18.52 STN 405
417.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sao Tome and Principe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$283 STN 6,178
263.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$604 COP 1.9M
$195 STN 4,256
210.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,802 COP 5.7M
$946 STN 20.7K
90.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$993 COP 3.2M
$441 STN 9,627
125.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,921 COP 12.5M
$1,860 STN 40.6K
110.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,639 COP 5.2M
$1,129 STN 24.7K
45.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sao Tome and Principe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$626 COP 2.0M
$431 STN 9,428
45.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
7.38
48.24%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026

Last update for Sao Tome and Principe: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$604
Sao Tome and Principe
$195 67.8% $410
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$288
Sao Tome and Principe
$402 39.3% $113
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$203
Sao Tome and Principe
$324 59.3% $121
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$166
Sao Tome and Principe
$42 * 74.5% $124
Eating Out
Medellin
$166
Sao Tome and Principe
$149 10.3% $17
Getting Around
Medellin
$91
Sao Tome and Principe
$21 * 77.4% $71
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Sao Tome and Principe
$74 31.6% $18

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇸🇹 Sao Tome and Principe
🕒 Local time
03:58 3:58 AM
08:58 8:58 AM
5 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
204,327
Exchange rates and currency converter

STN, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3,187 COP (10,000 COP = 3.14 USD). 1 EUR = 3,574 COP (10,000 COP = 2.8 EUR).

Sao Tome and Principe Dobra exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 21.85 STN (100 STN = 4.58 USD). 1 EUR = 24.51 STN (100 STN = 4.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Sao Tome and Principe 9,160 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Sao Tome and Principe

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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