Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio de Janeiro and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio de Janeiro and Medellin

🙂 Solo nomad: Rio de Janeiro is 4.2% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 5.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Rio de Janeiro is 1.9% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 3.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.1 R$39.4
$6.23 COP 26K
13.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.72 R$198
$32.34 COP 134.8K
10.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.47 R$35.9
$7.39 COP 30.8K
-12.45%
Cappuccino
$1.98 R$10.97
$1.72 COP 7,155
15.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 R$7.28
$1.1 COP 4,575
19.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.9 R$4.97
$0.73 COP 3,060
23.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.82 R$10.08
$1.66 COP 6,916
9.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 R$15.11
$3.2 COP 13.3K
-15.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 R$6.19
$1.09 COP 4,552
2.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.71 R$9.48
$1.24 COP 5,188
37.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.41 R$7.82
$1.33 COP 5,544
6.02%
Eggs
$2.04 R$11.32
$2.22 COP 9,252
-8.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.84 R$43.53
$4.55 COP 19K
72.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 R$20.17
$5.71 COP 23.8K
-36.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.25 R$45.78
$8.59 COP 35.8K
-3.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 R$13.25
$2.26 COP 9,410
5.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 R$8.58
$1.07 COP 4,461
44.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 R$8.15
$1.51 COP 6,293
-2.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 R$8.43
$1.42 COP 5,911
7.04%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 R$7.17
$1.11 COP 4,619
16.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 R$6.45
$1.18 COP 4,932
-1.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 R$3.5
$0.89 COP 3,718
-29.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 R$3.41
$0.84 COP 3,507
-27.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.95 R$10.8
$2.35 COP 9,809
-17.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.34 R$40.77
$9.34 COP 38.9K
-21.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 R$7
$1.18 COP 4,927
6.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.1 R$11.67
$2.49 COP 10.4K
-15.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.3 R$7.2
$0.83 COP 3,464
56.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.57 R$214
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-7.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.13 R$6.28
$1.41 COP 5,899
-19.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 R$3.85
$1.96 COP 8,164
-64.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.8 R$43.29
$7.85 COP 32.7K
-0.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 R$5.87
$1.02 COP 4,265
3.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5K R$113.5K
$17.6K COP 73.4M
16.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K R$153.4K
$26.2K COP 109.2M
5.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 R$574
$82.5 COP 344.1K
25.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.89 R$66
$9.44 COP 39.4K
25.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.63 R$103
$23.51 COP 98K
-20.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.89 R$144
$25.68 COP 107.1K
0.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.74 R$132
$19.14 COP 79.8K
24.03%
Cinema Ticket
$6.57 R$36.47
$3.96 COP 16.5K
65.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rio de Janeiro
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$540 R$2,995
$305 COP 1.3M
77.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K R$65.3K
$5,925 COP 24.7M
98.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.33 R$252
$57.9 COP 241.4K
-21.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.71 R$231
$31.59 COP 131.7K
32.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.9 R$415
$103 COP 430.1K
-27.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.1 R$334
$106 COP 440.5K
-43.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$446 R$2,475
$489 COP 2M
-8.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$333 R$1,846
$379 COP 1.6M
-12.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$861 R$4,780
$827 COP 3.4M
4.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$573 R$3,182
$729 COP 3M
-21.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,021 R$11.2K
$2,190 COP 9.1M
-7.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,183 R$6,568
$1,532 COP 6.4M
-22.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rio de Janeiro
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$452 R$2,509
$550 COP 2.3M
-17.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.33
13.43
-15.64%

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

Last update for Rio de Janeiro: October 29, 2025

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

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