Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Joao da Boa Vista and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Joao da Boa Vista and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $790 per month in Sao Joao da Boa Vista vs $1,028 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,267 per month in Sao Joao da Boa Vista vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,744 per month in Sao Joao da Boa Vista vs $2,144 in Medellin, rent included.

Sao Joao da Boa Vista is about 23% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sao Joao da Boa Vista and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Sao Joao da Boa Vista 41% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 R$28.03

$6.00 COP 20.6K

-9.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.58 R$137

$32.84 COP 112.9K

-19.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.69 R$29.38

$7.42 COP 25.5K

-23.32%

Cappuccino

$2.07 R$10.69

$1.65 COP 5,675

25.45%

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

$1.25 R$6.48

$1.07 COP 3,673

16.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 R$4.55

$0.76 COP 2,614

15.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.11 R$10.87

$1.72 COP 5,925

22.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 R$13.87

$3.20 COP 11.0K

-15.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 R$4.42

$1.05 COP 3,607

-18.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 R$7.88

$1.31 COP 4,492

16.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 R$6.88

$1.34 COP 4,604

-0.75%

Eggs

$2.83 R$14.60

$2.19 COP 7,543

29.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.49 R$64.5

$4.41 COP 15.2K

183.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.23 R$21.83

$5.69 COP 19.6K

-25.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.66 R$44.67

$8.52 COP 29.3K

1.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 R$8.44

$2.34 COP 8,046

-29.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 R$6.22

$1.11 COP 3,815

9.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 R$11.09

$1.52 COP 5,225

41.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 R$9.04

$1.37 COP 4,694

27.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.31 R$6.76

$1.15 COP 3,962

13.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 R$6.33

$1.18 COP 4,055

4.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 R$5.41

$0.84 COP 2,893

25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 R$2.39

$0.86 COP 2,940

-46.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.20 R$11.37

$2.26 COP 7,776

-2.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.99 R$30.93

$11.60 COP 39.9K

-48.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 R$7.07

$1.20 COP 4,121

14.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 R$11.11

$2.48 COP 8,508

-13.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 R$4.53

$0.79 COP 2,729

11.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.18 R$202

$40.83 COP 140.4K

-4.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.24 R$6.38

$1.47 COP 5,038

-15.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 R$5.51

$1.92 COP 6,587

-44.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.46 R$33.36

$7.77 COP 26.7K

-16.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 R$4.31

$1.01 COP 3,474

-16.83%

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

$20.6K R$106.4K

$17.7K COP 60.7M

16.70%

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

$29.0K R$149.6K

$26.5K COP 90.9M

9.55%

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

$85.5 R$441

$81.1 COP 278.8K

5.41%

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

$11.91 R$61.5

$9.43 COP 32.4K

26.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.05 R$93.2

$23.86 COP 82.0K

-24.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.62 R$117

$25.99 COP 89.4K

-12.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.23 R$110

$18.71 COP 64.3K

13.47%

Cinema Ticket

$4.51 R$23.30

$4.09 COP 14.1K

10.27%

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

$288 R$1,488

$315 COP 1.1M

-8.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,923 R$40.9K

$6,022 COP 20.7M

31.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.17 R$238

$59.7 COP 205.2K

-22.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.16 R$207

$31.97 COP 109.9K

25.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.11 R$202

$101 COP 347.9K

-61.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.62 R$210

$105 COP 361.3K

-61.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$313 R$1,618

$485 COP 1.7M

-35.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$218 R$1,124

$365 COP 1.3M

-40.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$585 R$3,017

$827 COP 2.8M

-29.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$435 R$2,247

$730 COP 2.5M

-40.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,620 R$8,363

$2,992 COP 10.3M

-45.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,188 R$6,129

$1,314 COP 4.5M

-9.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$649 R$3,348

$551 COP 1.9M

17.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-10.65%

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

Last update for Sao Joao da Boa Vista: June 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $313 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista versus $485 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 18% higher in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, 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 $27.00 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $197 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista vs $190 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 Joao da Boa Vista vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,185 per month in Sao Joao da Boa Vista and $1,542 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, 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 $27.00 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista 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 $790 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista and $1,028 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, where all-in costs run around $790, than in Medellin at $1,028. In Sao Joao da Boa Vista it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sao Joao da Boa Vista – 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 Joao da Boa Vista. 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.