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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 24.4% cheaper than Sao Tome without rent, and 6.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 32% cheaper than Sao Tome without rent, and 15.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sao Tome
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14 COP 22.1K
$20.60 STN 428
-70.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05 COP 119.0K
$46.85 STN 974
-29.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.32 COP 26.4K
$10.13 STN 211
-27.74%
Cappuccino
$1.66 COP 5,971
$1.72 STN 35.75
-3.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,977
$1.86 STN 38.63
-40.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,815
$1.17 STN 24.40
-33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 COP 6,172
$1.60 STN 33.32
6.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 11.4K
$1.89 STN 39.24
67.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sao Tome
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 COP 4,002
$1.33 STN 27.75
-16.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,707
$1.05 STN 21.78
24.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,967
$2.33 STN 48.48
-40.77%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 7,989
$5.16 STN 107
-56.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.34 COP 15.6K
$20.20 STN 420
-78.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COP 20.9K
$19.98 STN 415
-70.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.98 COP 32.3K
$25.50 STN 530
-64.78%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 8,143
$4.73 STN 98.4
-52.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,013
$1.15 STN 23.81
-3.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 COP 5,271
$4.12 STN 85.7
-64.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,916
$3.49 STN 72.6
-60.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,999
$2.67 STN 55.4
-58.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,188
$2.04 STN 42.49
-43.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,202
$0.72 STN 14.99
23.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 COP 3,116
$1.91 STN 39.76
-54.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 8,473
$2.35 STN 48.83
-
Wine (Bottle)
$10.86 COP 39.1K
$8.42 STN 175
28.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,319
$1.33 STN 27.69
-9.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 8,923
$1.28 STN 26.56
93.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sao Tome
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,835
$1.21 STN 25.07
-34.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.77 COP 146.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 5,124
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,882
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.65 COP 27.5K
$14.26 STN 296
-46.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,481
$1.71 STN 35.60
-43.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COP 65.2M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K COP 94.7M
$23.1K STN 480.3K
13.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sao Tome
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 COP 292.8K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63 COP 34.7K
$35.07 STN 729
-72.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36 COP 87.7K
$71.5 STN 1,487
-65.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sao Tome
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.02 COP 93.7K
$37.49 STN 779
-30.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 COP 68.1K
$29.03 STN 604
-34.83%
Cinema Ticket
$3.89 COP 14.0K
$20.55 STN 427
-81.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sao Tome
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 COP 1.1M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,902 COP 21.3M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sao Tome
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COP 211.3K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48 COP 116.9K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 366.3K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 389.4K
$19.01 STN 395
468.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sao Tome
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$474 COP 1.7M
$353 STN 7,343
34.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COP 1.3M
$229 STN 4,752
62.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$848 COP 3.1M
$662 STN 13.8K
28.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$528 STN 11.0K
35.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 COP 10.3M
$1,922 STN 40.0K
49.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,375 COP 5.0M
$1,190 STN 24.7K
15.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sao Tome
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$542 COP 1.9M
$270 STN 5,614
100.54%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Sao Tome: April 11, 2026

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

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