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 $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,081 in Sao Tome, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,841 in Sao Tome, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $2,601 in Sao Tome, rent included.

Medellin is about 5% cheaper than Sao Tome, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Sao Tome are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Sao Tome 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$19.99 STN 430

-69.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$45.96 STN 988

-29.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$9.95 STN 214

-26.23%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$1.72 STN 37.06

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$1.94 STN 41.77

-45.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$1.15 STN 24.72

-33.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$1.63 STN 35.15

3.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$1.88 STN 40.46

68.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.33 STN 28.61

-21.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$1.04 STN 22.43

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$2.26 STN 48.61

-38.05%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$4.94 STN 106

-56.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$20.05 STN 431

-78.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$19.87 STN 427

-70.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$24.69 STN 531

-65.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$4.50 STN 96.7

-49.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$1.18 STN 25.43

-5.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$3.98 STN 85.5

-61.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$3.52 STN 75.6

-61.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$2.58 STN 55.6

-56.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$1.99 STN 42.83

-43.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$0.66 STN 14.27

28.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$1.90 STN 40.82

-52.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$2.32 STN 49.94

0.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$7.94 STN 171

55.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$1.27 STN 27.27

-5.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$1.34 STN 28.81

85.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$1.26 STN 27.11

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$14.14 STN 304

-45.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.65 STN 35.39

-40.00%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$22.8K STN 490.0K

16.83%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$34.83 STN 749

-71.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$72.6 STN 1,560

-66.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$36.62 STN 787

-31.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$29.39 STN 632

-34.84%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$21.14 STN 455

-81.17%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$19.10 STN 411

464.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$353 STN 7,595

34.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$235 STN 5,044

60.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$664 STN 14.3K

27.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$515 STN 11.1K

41.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$1,840 STN 39.6K

74.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$1,149 STN 24.7K

19.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$265 STN 5,702

132.58%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sao Tome: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $353 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 133% 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: $193 vs $411 – 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 5%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,622 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 113% 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 $1,031, than in Sao Tome at $1,081. 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.