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

🙂 Solo nomad: Sao Luis is 4.2% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 22% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Sao Luis is 0.3% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 26.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sao Luis
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.89 R$27.13
$6.23 COP 26K
-21.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.1 R$167
$32.34 COP 134.8K
-6.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.42 R$41.2
$7.39 COP 30.8K
0.41%
Cappuccino
$2.1 R$11.68
$1.72 COP 7,155
22.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 R$5.33
$1.1 COP 4,575
-12.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 R$3.03
$0.73 COP 3,060
-24.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.85 R$10.26
$1.66 COP 6,916
11.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 R$18.27
$3.2 COP 13.3K
2.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sao Luis
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 R$5.42
$1.09 COP 4,552
-10.09%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 R$10.51
$1.24 COP 5,188
52.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.03 R$5.69
$1.33 COP 5,544
-22.56%
Eggs
$1.95 R$10.82
$2.22 COP 9,252
-12.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.14 R$50.7
$4.55 COP 19K
100.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.7 R$20.53
$5.71 COP 23.8K
-35.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.49 R$41.59
$8.59 COP 35.8K
-12.81%
Apples (1kg)
$1.86 R$10.35
$2.26 COP 9,410
-17.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 R$6.72
$1.07 COP 4,461
13.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1 R$5.52
$1.51 COP 6,293
-33.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.41 R$7.82
$1.42 COP 5,911
-0.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 R$6.19
$1.11 COP 4,619
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 R$6.61
$1.18 COP 4,932
0.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 R$4.08
$0.89 COP 3,718
-17.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 R$3.36
$0.84 COP 3,507
-27.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.03 R$11.28
$2.35 COP 9,809
-13.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.26 R$40.32
$9.34 COP 38.9K
-22.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 R$6.39
$1.18 COP 4,927
-2.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.9 R$10.54
$2.49 COP 10.4K
-23.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Sao Luis
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.78 R$4.33
$0.83 COP 3,464
-6.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.26 R$196
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-15.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.86 R$4.77
$1.41 COP 5,899
-39.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 R$2.91
$1.96 COP 8,164
-73.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.37 R$35.38
$7.85 COP 32.7K
-18.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 R$5.42
$1.02 COP 4,265
-3.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17K R$94.5K
$17.6K COP 73.4M
-3.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K R$141.9K
$26.2K COP 109.2M
-2.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Luis
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84 R$466
$82.5 COP 344.1K
1.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.2 R$95.5
$9.44 COP 39.4K
82.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.04 R$89
$23.51 COP 98K
-31.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sao Luis
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.47 R$103
$25.68 COP 107.1K
-28.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.45 R$85.8
$19.14 COP 79.8K
-19.28%
Cinema Ticket
$6.22 R$34.51
$3.96 COP 16.5K
57.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sao Luis
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$211 R$1,170
$305 COP 1.3M
-30.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,323 R$24K
$5,925 COP 24.7M
-27.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sao Luis
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.91 R$244
$57.9 COP 241.4K
-24.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.5 R$264
$31.59 COP 131.7K
50.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$52.4 R$291
$103 COP 430.1K
-49.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.5 R$297
$106 COP 440.5K
-49.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sao Luis
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$394 R$2,186
$489 COP 2M
-19.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$213 R$1,180
$379 COP 1.6M
-43.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$526 R$2,917
$827 COP 3.4M
-36.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$296 R$1,645
$729 COP 3M
-59.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,416 R$7,862
$2,190 COP 9.1M
-35.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$670 R$3,721
$1,532 COP 6.4M
-56.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sao Luis
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$393 R$2,180
$550 COP 2.3M
-28.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.92
13.43
-18.69%

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

Last update for Sao Luis: October 29, 2025

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

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