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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,087 in Sao Tome, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,830 in Sao Tome, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $2,573 in Sao Tome, rent included.

Medellin is about 7% cheaper than Sao Tome, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Sao Tome are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Sao Tome 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$20.64 STN 433

-70.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$46.23 STN 971

-28.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$9.91 STN 208

-28.46%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$1.73 STN 36.29

-1.16%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,924

$1.86 STN 39.04

-40.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$1.18 STN 24.73

-33.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$1.62 STN 33.98

3.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$1.92 STN 40.35

59.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.38 STN 28.98

-21.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$1.00 STN 20.97

26.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$2.32 STN 48.76

-40.52%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$4.96 STN 104

-55.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$20.53 STN 431

-78.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$19.97 STN 419

-71.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$24.64 STN 517

-63.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$4.73 STN 99.3

-50.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$1.13 STN 23.63

-6.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$4.00 STN 83.9

-62.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$3.57 STN 75.0

-61.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$2.64 STN 55.5

-56.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$2.08 STN 43.63

-44.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$0.71 STN 14.89

25.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$1.88 STN 39.52

-55.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$2.33 STN 48.83

-2.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$8.09 STN 170

31.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$1.34 STN 28.04

-10.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$1.34 STN 28.06

84.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$1.22 STN 25.60

-29.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$13.88 STN 291

-44.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.63 STN 34.32

-41.72%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.1K COP 64.7M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$23.1K STN 484.8K

14.72%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.3 COP 293.7K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$34.07 STN 716

-72.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$71.5 STN 1,501

-66.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$37.22 STN 782

-30.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$29.30 STN 615

-35.15%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$20.93 STN 440

-81.22%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$18.64 STN 392

481.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$342 STN 7,191

39.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$228 STN 4,796

65.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$666 STN 14.0K

25.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$527 STN 11.1K

37.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$1,875 STN 39.4K

48.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$1,168 STN 24.5K

3.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$272 STN 5,709

88.26%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sao Tome: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $342 in Sao Tome. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 88% higher in Medellin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $46.00 in Sao Tome. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $415 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Sao Tome: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sao Tome is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,630 in Sao Tome. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 120% more in Sao Tome, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $46.00 in Sao Tome. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Sao Tome at $1,087. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sao Tome it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sao Tome makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.