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

😐 Solo nomad: Sao Tome is 39.1% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 6.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Sao Tome is 46.4% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 21.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sao Tome
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.41 STN 431
$6.23 COP 26K
227.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.97 STN 970
$32.34 COP 134.8K
42.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.99 STN 211
$7.39 COP 30.8K
35.18%
Cappuccino
$1.78 STN 37.62
$1.72 COP 7,155
3.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 STN 40.33
$1.1 COP 4,575
73.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 STN 24.99
$0.73 COP 3,060
61.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.61 STN 33.97
$1.66 COP 6,916
-3.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.9 STN 40.1
$3.2 COP 13.3K
-40.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sao Tome
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.39 STN 29.26
$1.09 COP 4,552
27.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1 STN 21
$1.24 COP 5,188
-19.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.38 STN 50.2
$1.33 COP 5,544
78.95%
Eggs
$4.98 STN 105
$2.22 COP 9,252
124.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.37 STN 430
$4.55 COP 19K
347.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$20.07 STN 423
$5.71 COP 23.8K
251.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.84 STN 524
$8.59 COP 35.8K
189.17%
Apples (1kg)
$4.51 STN 95.1
$2.26 COP 9,410
99.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 STN 24.82
$1.07 COP 4,461
10.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$4 STN 84.3
$1.51 COP 6,293
164.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.43 STN 72.3
$1.42 COP 5,911
141.55%
Potato (1kg)
$2.65 STN 55.9
$1.11 COP 4,619
138.74%
Onion (1kg)
$2.08 STN 43.8
$1.18 COP 4,932
76.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 STN 14.19
$0.89 COP 3,718
-24.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 STN 41.73
$0.84 COP 3,507
135.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 STN 47.68
$2.35 COP 9,809
-3.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.41 STN 199
$9.34 COP 38.9K
0.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 STN 26.73
$1.18 COP 4,927
7.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.3 STN 27.37
$2.49 COP 10.4K
-47.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Sao Tome
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.26 STN 26.66
$0.83 COP 3,464
51.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.41 COP 5,899
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.96 COP 8,164
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.91 STN 293
$7.85 COP 32.7K
77.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.7 STN 35.93
$1.02 COP 4,265
66.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$17.6K COP 73.4M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9K STN 482.7K
$26.2K COP 109.2M
-12.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Tome
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$82.5 COP 344.1K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.49 STN 728
$9.44 COP 39.4K
265.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73 STN 1,541
$23.51 COP 98K
210.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sao Tome
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.95 STN 780
$25.68 COP 107.1K
43.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.71 STN 606
$19.14 COP 79.8K
50.00%
Cinema Ticket
$21.2 STN 447
$3.96 COP 16.5K
435.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sao Tome
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$305 COP 1.3M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,925 COP 24.7M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sao Tome
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$57.9 COP 241.4K
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$31.59 COP 131.7K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$103 COP 430.1K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$19.09 STN 403
$106 COP 440.5K
-81.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sao Tome
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$344 STN 7,262
$489 COP 2M
-29.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$230 STN 4,857
$379 COP 1.6M
-39.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$667 STN 14.1K
$827 COP 3.4M
-19.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$514 STN 10.9K
$729 COP 3M
-29.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,190 COP 9.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,532 COP 6.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sao Tome
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$329 STN 6,931
$550 COP 2.3M
-40.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.38
13.43
-45.05%

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

Last update for Sao Tome: October 29, 2025

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

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