Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Carlos and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Carlos and Medellin

🙂 Solo nomad: Sao Carlos is 7.5% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 21.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Sao Carlos is 12.9% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 11.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sao Carlos
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.6 R$25.55
$6.23 COP 26K
-26.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.65 R$181
$32.34 COP 134.8K
0.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.78 R$37.65
$7.39 COP 30.8K
-8.25%
Cappuccino
$1.74 R$9.68
$1.72 COP 7,155
1.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 R$6.42
$1.1 COP 4,575
5.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 R$3.5
$0.73 COP 3,060
-13.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.47 R$8.16
$1.66 COP 6,916
-11.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 R$16.78
$3.2 COP 13.3K
-5.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sao Carlos
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 R$6.04
$1.09 COP 4,552
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.52 R$8.42
$1.24 COP 5,188
22.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.57 R$14.24
$1.33 COP 5,544
93.23%
Eggs
$2.23 R$12.37
$2.22 COP 9,252
0.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.55 R$53
$4.55 COP 19K
109.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.17 R$23.13
$5.71 COP 23.8K
-26.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.74 R$42.96
$8.59 COP 35.8K
-9.90%
Apples (1kg)
$2.33 R$12.94
$2.26 COP 9,410
3.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 R$8.38
$1.07 COP 4,461
41.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 R$8.47
$1.51 COP 6,293
1.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 R$11.04
$1.42 COP 5,911
40.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 R$8.47
$1.11 COP 4,619
37.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 R$6.87
$1.18 COP 4,932
5.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.9 R$4.98
$0.89 COP 3,718
1.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 R$4.32
$0.84 COP 3,507
-7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.1 R$11.63
$2.35 COP 9,809
-10.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.24 R$40.17
$9.34 COP 38.9K
-22.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 R$7.07
$1.18 COP 4,927
7.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 R$14.01
$2.49 COP 10.4K
1.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Sao Carlos
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 R$5.17
$0.83 COP 3,464
12.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.89 R$121
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-47.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 R$7.29
$1.41 COP 5,899
-7.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.96 R$5.34
$1.96 COP 8,164
-51.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.31 R$18.39
$7.85 COP 32.7K
-57.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 R$5.76
$1.02 COP 4,265
1.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K R$161.3K
$17.6K COP 73.4M
65.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2K R$162.2K
$26.2K COP 109.2M
11.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Carlos
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.1 R$395
$82.5 COP 344.1K
-13.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.76 R$81.9
$9.44 COP 39.4K
56.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.57 R$103
$23.51 COP 98K
-21.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sao Carlos
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.55 R$114
$25.68 COP 107.1K
-19.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.92 R$222
$19.14 COP 79.8K
108.57%
Cinema Ticket
$4.22 R$23.42
$3.96 COP 16.5K
6.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sao Carlos
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 R$1,707
$305 COP 1.3M
0.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,678 R$14.9K
$5,925 COP 24.7M
-54.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sao Carlos
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.58 R$259
$57.9 COP 241.4K
-19.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.53 R$203
$31.59 COP 131.7K
15.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 R$560
$103 COP 430.1K
-2.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.6 R$503
$106 COP 440.5K
-14.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sao Carlos
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$219 R$1,218
$489 COP 2M
-55.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$216 R$1,202
$379 COP 1.6M
-42.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$439 R$2,437
$827 COP 3.4M
-46.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$486 R$2,696
$729 COP 3M
-33.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$693 R$3,845
$2,190 COP 9.1M
-68.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$850 R$4,718
$1,532 COP 6.4M
-44.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sao Carlos
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$828 R$4,594
$550 COP 2.3M
50.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.67
13.43
-20.55%

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

Last update for Sao Carlos: October 29, 2025

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

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