Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Caetano do Sul and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Caetano do Sul and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $926 per month in Sao Caetano do Sul vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,640 per month in Sao Caetano do Sul vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,354 per month in Sao Caetano do Sul vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Sao Caetano do Sul is about 8% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Sao Caetano do Sul and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Sao Caetano do Sul 30% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.33 R$37.53

$5.91 COP 18.9K

24.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.27 R$165

$32.96 COP 105.2K

-2.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.83 R$34.97

$7.43 COP 23.7K

-8.08%

Cappuccino

$1.72 R$8.80

$1.65 COP 5,276

4.24%

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

$1.20 R$6.12

$1.10 COP 3,514

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 R$4.04

$0.78 COP 2,491

1.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.77 R$9.07

$1.72 COP 5,484

2.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 R$14.02

$3.18 COP 10.1K

-13.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 R$5.21

$1.10 COP 3,521

-7.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.78 R$9.11

$1.26 COP 4,015

41.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 R$6.63

$1.38 COP 4,407

-5.80%

Eggs

$2.32 R$11.86

$2.18 COP 6,950

6.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.91 R$50.7

$4.49 COP 14.3K

120.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.28 R$21.90

$5.79 COP 18.5K

-26.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.19 R$41.88

$8.97 COP 28.6K

-8.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.17 R$11.12

$2.32 COP 7,405

-6.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 R$8.59

$1.06 COP 3,397

58.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.41 R$7.24

$1.52 COP 4,838

-7.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.69 R$8.66

$1.36 COP 4,327

24.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 R$7.19

$1.13 COP 3,599

23.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 R$6.45

$1.17 COP 3,738

7.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 R$4.81

$0.90 COP 2,876

4.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 R$3.33

$0.90 COP 2,861

-27.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 R$11.68

$2.23 COP 7,128

2.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.86 R$45.33

$12.12 COP 38.7K

-26.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 R$7.06

$1.19 COP 3,793

15.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 R$12.21

$2.48 COP 7,920

-3.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 R$4.43

$0.85 COP 2,723

2.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.03 R$195

$41.62 COP 132.8K

-8.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 R$5.67

$1.42 COP 4,518

-21.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.59 R$3.01

$1.95 COP 6,223

-69.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.71 R$39.46

$7.89 COP 25.2K

-2.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 R$5.45

$0.99 COP 3,160

8.08%

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

$21.7K R$111.0K

$17.6K COP 56.2M

23.25%

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

$28.7K R$147.0K

$26.8K COP 85.5M

7.18%

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

$54.7 R$280

$83.0 COP 264.9K

-34.16%

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

$12.92 R$66.1

$9.70 COP 30.9K

33.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.07 R$113

$23.52 COP 75.0K

-6.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.70 R$244

$25.26 COP 80.6K

88.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.71 R$239

$19.10 COP 60.9K

144.55%

Cinema Ticket

$7.02 R$35.94

$3.95 COP 12.6K

77.72%

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

$333 R$1,704

$316 COP 1.0M

5.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,746 R$44.8K

$5,975 COP 19.1M

46.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.9 R$265

$60.0 COP 191.4K

-13.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.51 R$218

$31.82 COP 101.5K

33.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.6 R$407

$102 COP 324.4K

-21.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 R$392

$107 COP 342.8K

-28.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$325 R$1,665

$475 COP 1.5M

-31.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 R$1,419

$374 COP 1.2M

-25.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$627 R$3,210

$849 COP 2.7M

-26.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$885 R$4,531

$719 COP 2.3M

23.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,836 R$9,395

$3,265 COP 10.4M

-43.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,405 R$7,190

$1,441 COP 4.6M

-2.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$933 R$4,772

$624 COP 2.0M

49.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.17

13.43

-16.83%

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

Last update for Sao Caetano do Sul: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $325 in Sao Caetano do Sul versus $475 in Medellin. 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 49% higher in Sao Caetano do Sul, 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 $32.00 in Sao Caetano do Sul versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $201 in Sao Caetano do Sul vs $193 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Sao Caetano do Sul vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,390 per month in Sao Caetano do Sul and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sao Caetano do Sul, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Sao Caetano do Sul and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $926 in Sao Caetano do Sul and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sao Caetano do Sul, where all-in costs run around $926, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Sao Caetano do Sul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sao Caetano do Sul – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Sao Caetano 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.