Cost of Living Comparison Between Recife and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Recife and Medellin

🙂 Solo nomad: Recife is 11.9% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 23.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Recife is 9.8% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 12.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Recife
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.05 R$28.01
$6.23 COP 26K
-18.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.3 R$157
$32.34 COP 134.8K
-12.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.89 R$38.23
$7.39 COP 30.8K
-6.77%
Cappuccino
$1.78 R$9.88
$1.72 COP 7,155
3.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 R$4.91
$1.1 COP 4,575
-19.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 R$2.95
$0.73 COP 3,060
-27.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.41 R$7.8
$1.66 COP 6,916
-15.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 R$16.69
$3.2 COP 13.3K
-5.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Recife
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 R$6.32
$1.09 COP 4,552
4.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 R$8.03
$1.24 COP 5,188
16.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.27 R$7.04
$1.33 COP 5,544
-4.51%
Eggs
$2.29 R$12.72
$2.22 COP 9,252
3.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.81 R$37.78
$4.55 COP 19K
49.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.56 R$19.76
$5.71 COP 23.8K
-37.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.94 R$38.54
$8.59 COP 35.8K
-19.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.19 R$12.17
$2.26 COP 9,410
-3.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 R$7.19
$1.07 COP 4,461
20.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.11 R$6.16
$1.51 COP 6,293
-26.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 R$8.95
$1.42 COP 5,911
13.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 R$7.18
$1.11 COP 4,619
16.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 R$5.75
$1.18 COP 4,932
-11.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.51 R$2.82
$0.89 COP 3,718
-42.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 R$4.15
$0.84 COP 3,507
-10.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.64 R$9.08
$2.35 COP 9,809
-30.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.44 R$41.32
$9.34 COP 38.9K
-20.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.2 R$6.66
$1.18 COP 4,927
1.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 R$9.28
$2.49 COP 10.4K
-32.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Recife
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.76 R$4.21
$0.83 COP 3,464
-8.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.46 R$202
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-12.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.15 R$6.36
$1.41 COP 5,899
-18.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.66 R$3.68
$1.96 COP 8,164
-66.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.57 R$19.83
$7.85 COP 32.7K
-54.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 R$5.99
$1.02 COP 4,265
5.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.3K R$90.4K
$17.6K COP 73.4M
-7.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1K R$122.8K
$26.2K COP 109.2M
-15.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Recife
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.7 R$398
$82.5 COP 344.1K
-13.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.15 R$89.7
$9.44 COP 39.4K
71.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.67 R$92.5
$23.51 COP 98K
-29.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Recife
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.47 R$108
$25.68 COP 107.1K
-24.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.95 R$172
$19.14 COP 79.8K
61.70%
Cinema Ticket
$7.29 R$40.48
$3.96 COP 16.5K
84.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Recife
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$262 R$1,453
$305 COP 1.3M
-14.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K R$58.8K
$5,925 COP 24.7M
78.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Recife
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.03 R$239
$57.9 COP 241.4K
-25.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.4 R$280
$31.59 COP 131.7K
59.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.4 R$463
$103 COP 430.1K
-19.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.3 R$429
$106 COP 440.5K
-26.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Recife
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$323 R$1,794
$489 COP 2M
-33.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$202 R$1,122
$379 COP 1.6M
-46.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$581 R$3,226
$827 COP 3.4M
-29.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$536 R$2,977
$729 COP 3M
-26.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,490 R$8,270
$2,190 COP 9.1M
-31.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$849 R$4,710
$1,532 COP 6.4M
-44.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Recife
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$434 R$2,407
$550 COP 2.3M
-21.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15
13.43
11.69%

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

Last update for Recife: October 28, 2025

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

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