🙂A single person spends $777 per month in Rio do Sul vs $1,555 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,207 per month in Rio do Sul vs $2,314 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,638 per month in Rio do Sul vs $3,072 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Rio do Sul is about 50% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Rio do Sul sits 42% below the global median, while Medellin is 15% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rio do Sul
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.72R$24.65
$7.59COP 24.7K
-37.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.00R$110
$44.78COP 145.7K
-53.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.88R$41.13
$9.24COP 30.1K
-14.72%
Cappuccino
$2.03R$10.61
$2.95COP 9,591
-31.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16R$6.05
$1.80COP 5,861
-35.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82R$4.29
$1.35COP 4,391
-39.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43R$12.69
$2.93COP 9,544
-17.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73R$19.50
$5.46COP 17.8K
-31.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rio do Sul
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.92R$4.79
$1.43COP 4,663
-35.66%
White Bread(500g)
$1.79R$9.36
$2.39COP 7,785
-25.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.31R$6.82
$1.60COP 5,209
-18.13%
Eggs
$1.51R$7.91
$2.88COP 9,364
-47.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.64R$39.89
$9.71COP 31.6K
-21.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.85R$20.12
$9.44COP 30.7K
-59.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.83R$35.64
$13.24COP 43.1K
-48.41%
Apples(1kg)
$1.50R$7.85
$3.75COP 12.2K
-60.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.02R$5.32
$1.45COP 4,703
-29.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.80R$4.17
$2.10COP 6,829
-61.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.17R$6.13
$2.13COP 6,930
-45.07%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84R$4.38
$1.92COP 6,259
-56.25%
Onion(1kg)
$0.70R$3.63
$1.53COP 4,984
-54.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.75R$3.93
$1.09COP 3,549
-31.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75R$3.94
$1.18COP 3,843
-36.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.83R$14.79
$3.79COP 12.3K
-25.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.74R$19.54
$13.16COP 42.8K
-71.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32R$6.88
$1.64COP 5,337
-19.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52R$13.18
$2.28COP 7,410
10.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Rio do Sul
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.97R$5.09
$1.18COP 3,825
-17.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.44R$222
$73.6COP 239.5K
-42.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.21R$6.32
$1.28COP 4,157
-5.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76R$3.95
$1.98COP 6,434
-61.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.67R$29.59
$7.89COP 25.7K
-28.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18R$6.18
$1.29COP 4,211
-8.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1KR$120.6K
$26.8KCOP 87.2M
-13.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9KR$166.6K
$34.7KCOP 112.9M
-8.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio do Sul
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.5R$316
$158COP 513.6K
-61.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42R$49.18
$13.39COP 43.6K
-29.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.97R$104
$27.28COP 88.8K
-26.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rio do Sul
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.11R$131
$44.15COP 143.7K
-43.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.40R$138
$15.99COP 52.0K
65.10%
Cinema Ticket
$4.70R$24.56
$6.39COP 20.8K
-26.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rio do Sul
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$297R$1,550
$777COP 2.5M
-61.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KR$55.9K
$8,800COP 28.6M
21.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rio do Sul
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.04R$246
$82.7COP 269.2K
-43.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.42R$258
$56.1COP 182.6K
-11.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.4R$404
$131COP 425.7K
-40.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.47R$248
$95.9COP 312.1K
-50.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rio do Sul
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$336R$1,756
$1,006COP 3.3M
-66.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$230R$1,202
$627COP 2.0M
-63.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$652R$3,403
$1,826COP 5.9M
-64.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$454R$2,370
$969COP 3.2M
-53.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,579R$8,244
$3,907COP 12.7M
-59.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,117R$5,832
$1,576COP 5.1M
-29.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rio do Sul
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$620COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.54
10.94
5.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rio do Sul: September 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $336 in Rio do Sul versus $1,006 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Rio do Sul versus $45.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $159 vs $285 – making Rio do Sul 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
Rio do Sul vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Rio do Sul?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 100%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,165 per month in Rio do Sul and $2,333 in Medellin. 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 Rio do Sul, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Rio do Sul or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Rio do Sul and $45.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Rio do Sul and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $777 in Rio do Sul and $1,555 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Rio do Sul or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Rio do Sul, where all-in costs run around $777, than in Medellin at $1,555. In Rio do Sul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Rio do Sul or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Rio do Sul – 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 Rio do Sul. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Rio do Sul vs other spots: cost of living compared