Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Três Lagoas

For one person, living is cheaper in Três Lagoas: $793 a month against $1,692 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $10,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Três Lagoas, Brazil
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Três Lagoas
🇧🇷 Brazil
$793
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Três Lagoas

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Três Lagoas actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,692 per month in Medellin vs $793 in Três Lagoas, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,692
  • Três Lagoas $793

A couple spends around $2,471 per month in Medellin vs $1,390 in Três Lagoas, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,471
  • Três Lagoas $1,390

A family of three spends $3,249 per month in Medellin vs $1,987 in Três Lagoas, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,249
  • Três Lagoas $1,987

Medellin costs about 113% more than Três Lagoas, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Três Lagoas is 41% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Três Lagoas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.34 COP 26.9K
$5.53 R$30.19
50.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.53 COP 150.2K
$29.42 R$161
58.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 COP 30.6K
$7.48 R$40.82
26.60%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 10.1K
$1.93 R$10.54
62.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 COP 5,702
$1.18 R$6.47
50.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 4,599
$0.70 R$3.81
102.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 COP 10.2K
$1.90 R$10.38
65.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 COP 18.4K
$2.87 R$15.67
98.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Três Lagoas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 COP 4,948
$1.38 R$7.52
10.87%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 COP 7,397
$1.96 R$10.73
16.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 COP 6,279
$1.16 R$6.34
67.24%
Eggs
$3.07 COP 9,900
$3.53 R$19.30
-13.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 COP 32.3K
$5.75 R$31.38
73.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 COP 33.7K
$5.20 R$28.40
100.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 COP 45.1K
$6.25 R$34.15
123.36%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 COP 13.1K
$1.54 R$8.42
162.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,934
$1.33 R$7.25
15.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 COP 6,794
$1.42 R$7.77
47.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 COP 7,405
$2.19 R$11.98
4.57%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 COP 6,810
$1.72 R$9.37
22.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 COP 5,518
$1.03 R$5.63
66.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,778
$0.77 R$4.20
51.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 5,101
$0.58 R$3.17
172.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 COP 12.6K
$1.81 R$9.91
116.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.04 COP 45.3K
$7.25 R$39.57
93.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 COP 5,688
$0.96 R$5.22
83.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 COP 8,756
$1.90 R$10.37
42.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Três Lagoas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,809
$1.04 R$5.66
13.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.3 COP 246.3K
$42.13 R$230
81.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 COP 5,833
$1.20 R$6.54
50.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,874
$0.84 R$4.56
153.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.13 COP 26.3K
$7.35 R$40.12
10.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 COP 4,117
$1.22 R$6.68
4.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K COP 111.2M
$21.9K R$119.3K
57.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.2M
$31.7K R$173.1K
7.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Três Lagoas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 COP 573.8K
$72.1 R$394
146.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.89 COP 44.8K
$11.44 R$62.5
21.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.74 COP 99.2K
$19.89 R$109
54.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Três Lagoas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.94 COP 135.4K
$24.62 R$134
70.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 COP 54.2K
$26.25 R$143
-36.00%
Cinema Ticket
$7.47 COP 24.1K
$6.72 R$36.71
11.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Três Lagoas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.6M
$255 R$1,395
209.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K COP 39.7M
$6,780 R$37.0K
81.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Três Lagoas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3 COP 278.7K
$50.9 R$278
69.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.3 COP 191.3K
$45.86 R$250
29.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 446.6K
$84.4 R$461
64.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8 COP 319.0K
$66.5 R$363
48.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Três Lagoas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 COP 4.3M
$372 R$2,032
260.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 COP 2.2M
$189 R$1,031
253.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,976 COP 6.4M
$824 R$4,498
139.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,033 COP 3.3M
$613 R$3,349
68.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,098 COP 13.2M
$1,598 R$8,728
156.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,940 COP 6.3M
$1,167 R$6,370
66.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Três Lagoas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 COP 2.1M
$165 R$903
290.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
11
-0.55%

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

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Last update for Três Lagoas: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$667
Três Lagoas
$189 71.7% $478
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$307
Três Lagoas
$187 39.2% $121
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$222
Três Lagoas
$103 53.5% $119
Eating Out
Medellin
$173
Três Lagoas
$113 34.8% $60
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$172
Três Lagoas
$111 35.3% $61
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Três Lagoas
$52 44.7% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Três Lagoas
$38 33.1% $19

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,341 in Medellin versus $372 in Três Lagoas. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Medellin are about 3.9 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $29 in Três Lagoas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 vs $187 – making Três Lagoas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇧🇷 Três Lagoas
🕒 Local time
19:44 7:44 PM
20:44 8:44 PM
1 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
132,152
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,610 COP (10,000 COP = 2.77 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 5.46 BRL (1 BRL = 0.183 USD). 1 EUR = 6.11 BRL (1 BRL = 0.164 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Três Lagoas 3,980 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Três Lagoas

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 Três Lagoas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Três Lagoas cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 113%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,538 per month in Medellin and $1,189 in Três Lagoas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Três Lagoas, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $372 there versus $1,341 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Três Lagoas?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $29 in Três Lagoas. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Três Lagoas?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,692 in Medellin and $793 in Três Lagoas. That makes Três Lagoas about 53% cheaper.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Três Lagoas?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Três Lagoas, where all-in costs run around $793, than in Medellin at $1,692. In Três Lagoas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Três Lagoas more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Três Lagoas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Três Lagoas. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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